🐶 The 10-Year-Old Puppy

“Until one has loved an animal,
a part of their soul remains unawakened.”
- Anatole France

🐶 “Tiny puppy” is actually a senior dog 👴🏻

👃🏻 The Sniff Test - how well can your dog smell?

⛑️ Pet Insurance 101 - Here’s our pick

 💸 You May Have Won $50 (scroll to bottom)

^Heartwarmers
This Adorable Puppy is 10 Years Old
 

• Ziggy belongs in a Disney movie.

• Shockingly, he’s 10 years old
  (despite looking about 4 months old).

• His life hasn’t always been easy,
  and his story will touch your heart.
   

 
This Week’s Cutest Videos

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

• Sirius is too big for the couch

• Sweet friend beats cancer

• Retriever loves to play with tomatoes

• Corgi carries massive tree branches home

• Dwarf kitty Francis turns 14 🎈 

Why are Pets so Cute?

The video below explains the science behind our fascination with our furry friends.

^News
Front Page Pets
 

Dogs Can Detect Smell ‘Far Better’ Than Previously Thought

• If you leave exactly one molecule of scent on something, your dog may be able to smell it.

• New research shows that trained dogs only need 1-10 molecules of a scent present in order to detect something.

• For perspective, a single molecule is 100,000 times smaller than the width of a strand of hair.

• This means dogs can detect scent significantly better than the most sophisticated instruments (even those using artificial intelligence).

 
Swimming Sessions May Help Chunky Cats Lose Weight

• An overweight cat named “Moses” has shed 14% of his excess bodyweight since starting hydrotherapy classes.

• Cats like “Moses” are subject to serious health risks when they become overweight, and losing fat is hard when mobility starts to decline.

• Hydrotherapy could be an effective way to get unhealthy cats healthy and feline great about themselves.
   

 
Former Stray Honored as a National Disaster Search Dog:

• “Red” was rescued and entered into the “Save a Stray” program after being abandoned in Mobile, Alabama.

• He showed intense curiosity, prompting his owner to bury toys in rubble to see if he could find them.

• His natural talent led him to become part of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation where he will no doubt save dozens of lives.
   

2024’s Most Pet-Friendly States - New Data

• The company “Smilehub” has compiled recent data to accurately rank the most pet-friendly states in the United States.

• Find out if your state is in the top 5.

• This resource could help you identify shortcomings in your state’s policies toward animals, allowing you to make decisions accordingly.

• The overall top pick is Colorado due to its low food costs, high pet ownership, animal protection laws, and high percentage of living spaces allowing pets.

More News
^{_{About our furry friends}}

• BarkAir takes its first official flight

• Firefighters save cliff-side dog

• Cat reunited with owner after 12 years

• Which dogs are allowed into United States
  (new legislation)
   

^{An Unbiased Look:}
Is Pet Insurance Worth The Money?

We’ve all wondered - is it a scam?

Pet insurance is advertised as a simple solution to the costs of veterinary treatment, but healthcare is never simple.

This guide condenses things, giving you a few clear-cut options and suggestions on what to do.

There are Two Primary Options
^{_{(and both have merit)}}

 
The first option: Rather than paying for pet insurance, simply set aside a small amount of money each month to have in case your pet needs medical care.

The second option: Invest in pet insurance each month and (hopefully) have your pet’s medical needs covered.

Click here for our breakdown of the pros & cons of each.
 

 
The Basics of Pet Insurance Coverage
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There are three types of pet insurance, and each one has different coverage:

• Accident-only insurance - this covers injuries and emergencies. You’ll have coverage for things like torn ligaments, toxic ingestions, bites from other animals, wounds, broken bones, and other unanticipated accidents.
   

• Accident & illness insurance - this covers everything listed in accident-only coverage, along with common illnesses, serious illnesses, testing, medications, and procedures.
   

• Routine wellness coverage - this covers regular vet visits, preventive care, dental care, and vaccinations.
   

You can purchase accident & illness insurance alongside routine wellness coverage to cover all of your bases. Naturally, this costs more but you might be able to bundle and save.

 
What Are The Average Costs?

^{Here are some key highlights:}

• Costs depend on species, breed, age, location, and pre-existing conditions.

• Dogs cost nearly double, with some dog breeds costing significantly more.

• On average, dog insurance costs $720 per year.

• On average, cat insurance costs $384 per year.

• It might be wise to change insurance companies over the course of your animal’s life. Some companies have better rates for older animals.
   

Lemonade looks to be the cheapest pet insurance option on average, with plans for dogs & cats starting at just $10 per month.
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