🌸 Lucky Pups Have Amazing Mom

“Lots of people talk to animals...
Not many listen though, that’s the problem.”
- A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh

💕 Inspiring dog & cat mothers who persevered
 
🚙 Planning summer trips with pets in mind

🏆 How to watch this weekend’s Westminster Dog Show
 
💸 $50 gift card winner, much more..

^{Cuteness Factor}
This Week’s Heartwarmers
 
 

 
Mama Overcomes for Her Pups
^{Sheds tears of happiness when they’re born}

 
This wonderful girl was left on her own. She was pregnant and in desperate need of help.

Watch her gracefully handle every step of her situation, have her pups, and land in the home of a wonderful young family.
 

 
Brave Mother Saves 7 Babies
^{Risking everything as waters rose}
 

This mother had her kittens in a storm drain just before rainwaters rushed into the area.

Watch as she carries each of her seven babies out one at a time and successfully saves all of their lives.
 

This Week’s Cutest Videos

Want to watch everything we found this week?
click here to watch the playlist.

• Pool dog shows mom’s how to relax on Mother’s Day

• Meeting a stray dog & falling in love

• Dog is piano virtuoso & cat plays ominous tones

• Hungry dog munches some Trader Joe’s

• Senior kitty perks up at new baby brother
  
   

^News
Front Page Pets
 

Heroic Dog Finds Missing Woman in 10 Minutes
 

• An 85-year-old woman was missing for two hours despite her family’s attempts to locate her.

• K-9 tracking dog, “Mercury,” was called in and started working.

• Mercury’s keen sense of smell was able to track her and save her from danger in a matter of 10 minutes.

 
New Law Aims to Prevent U.S. Dog Rabies
 

• The CDC has issued new rules for individuals bringing dogs into the United States.

• Dogs must appear healthy, be at least 6 months old, have a microchip, and have low risk for rabies.

• Covid adoption surges pushed thousands of dogs from the 113 countries where rabies is still endemic.

Strangers Raise $7k for Stray’s Heart Surgery
 

• A no-kill cat shelter didn’t have the money needed to save a cat’s life.

• They turned to social media in a last-ditch effort to save Citrus, a 4 pound cat with a heart condition.

• Strangers pitched in to raise $7,000 and save Citrus’ life and generate enough attention to get her adopted.

The Westminster Dog Show is This Weekend

• The show is the second-oldest continuously run sporting event in the United states, starting way back in 1877.

• It starts this Saturday 

• “Best in Show” will be held on Tuesday evening starting at 7:30pm. This will be broadcast on FS1 (Fox Sports 1).

But how do these shows really work, and how are the dogs judged? The video below may give you a little more insight (as well as a chuckle or two.)
 

More News:

• Watch missing dog see owner after 2 years

• Excessive eating in dogs could be something called “EPI”

• Retired K-9 dogs need adoptions, too

• Snuggle-loving 10 year old cat needs a home, and she’s adorable

^{Vacation (all I ever wanted…)}
Planning Summer Trips as a Pet Owner
 

53% of people claim they’d choose a road trip with their dog over one with a family member.

Still, 85% of pet owners say travel restrictions keep them from vacationing with their animals.

That’s ruff.

This pet-friendly travel guide offers the resources you’ll need to plan the perfect trip.
 

Start With Safety
^{_{Your pet matters most.}}
 

 
Here are three safety essentials:

• Make sure your pet has a collar with their name & phone number.

• Have a pet first aid kit on hand and understand how it’s used.

• Prepare a pet seat belt or car-safe carrying crate for the road.

Make Sure They’re Chipped.
^{_{Have you been putting it off?}}

• Microchips save lives and bring pets back to their owners.

• You can place a microchip yourself for less than $30.

• It takes a few seconds, and your pet may feel more comfortable if you’re the one doing it.

^{Amazon - secure your pet for under $27 here.} 

Track your pet’s location. 
^{_{Wherever they happen to go}} 

• You can keep constant tabs on your pet’s location if you use an Apple AirTag or Bluetooth tracker.

• These are simple to use, and you’ll be out less than $40 for the equipment.
   

Here’s how to track your pet’s location:

Apple AirTags and Bluetooth trackers are small and fit snugly onto collars via attachments or you can purchase collars designed to hold them. These collars feel normal to your pet - they’re not bulky.

Place the tracker in the collar, connect it to your phone (they’re easy to set up), and spend 10 or 15 minutes to make sure you understand how it works.

Doing this gives you a real-time location of your pet, wherever they are and you can watch it from your phone. So, if the unthinkable happens and your pet gets loose, you can see wherever they are in the world.

 
If you have an iPhone:

• Amazon - Apple AirTag, under $25

• Amazon - Waterproof AirTag-holding collar, under $15

If you don’t have an iPhone:

• Amazon - Tile Tracker, under $20, compatible with Smart Phones

• Amazon - Silicon holder, under $10, fits most collars.

Obedience Builds Confidence
^{_{It’s training time.}}

• Basic training is the one of the best ways to prepare your pet for a comfortable trip.

• It turns some of your pet’s stressors into things they understand. This reduces errant behaviors, opens up travel options, and vastly increases safety.

• If you’re traveling somewhere with wild animals (e.g. National parks), make sure your dogs have an “emergency down” command.

• This woman saved her dogs’ lives by using an emergency down command in the presence of wild hogs.

• Training a dog well can take just 6 weeks, so there’s time to start before your trip!

Get by With a Little Help
^{_{(use calming products, they’re life savers)}}

 
Find a calming chew or oil that works well for your pet. These products exist and they work for hundreds of thousands of dogs.

Lolahemp calming chews have been loved by over 30,000 dogs over the past four years. These chews do not sedate or change your dog’s personality, but rather give their bodies and minds the ability to tolerate stressors more effectively.

Even if your little guy or gal tends to do very well on the road, a natural product that helps them stay level is a must.

Plan The Right Trip
^{_{Don’t work your pet into the trip.}}

 
Work the trip around your pet. 

The personality, training, and demeanor of your pet should determine the length and destination of your trip. The more well-behaved and trained your pet is, the more vacation options you have.

The reality is that you’ll enjoy the vacation more if your pet is happy. If you’re worried about whether you should have brought them, you’re going to dread it and might even cut things short.

Find something that will be comfortable for both of you. You won’t regret it.

If you’re struggling to think of anything that suits your pet, leaving them home is still an option.

Pet Sitting Has Evolved
^{_{(you can leave, but your pet doesn’t have to)}}

• Rover provides a directory of boarding options, individuals who will watch your pet while they stay at your home, and people who will just drop in as much as you need.

• Rover costs vary depending on the length of your absence and the experience of the pet sitter. Expect to pay $20-$50 per day.

Here are other options to explore:

• Trusted House Sitters - you pay a flat fee of $149 for the year and get unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters at no extra cost.

• 7 Trusted Dog Sitting Services, According to The Dodo

Bon Voyage!

We hope this information is helpful as you plan your summer trips. Let us know if this was helpful below - you can drop additional questions or queries after you answer the survey if you’d like to.