💕 🐕 Two Chihuahuas in Love

 💞 Chihuahuas Madly in Love

🚨 Pet Food Recall

📢 Solutions for Barking

🎖️ Lotto Winner (at Bottom)

✍🏻 Submit poll to enter into lotto

^Heartwarmers
Romeo & Juliette
^{Chihuahua Lovebirds}
 

• Two teeny tiny Chihuahuas were rescued off the street together.

• They’re both very small, and have bonded through their shared experiences.

• Their lives are united, and it’s fitting that their names are Romeo & Juliette.

• Fortunately these two lovebirds were rescued together and get to enjoy all of their time together. Watch their story below!

^{Unlikely Family}
Crow Thinks German Shepherd is His Mom

^{Front Page Pets}
Nationwide Recall of 3 Pet Foods

• The pet food brand “ANSWERS” has voluntarily withdrawn three of its pet food formulas after they were tested & found to be contaminated with Salmonella.

• Three dogs have reportedly become ill from these products, and the FDA has strongly urged a recall. ANSWERS pet food has voluntarily withdrawn the product and made public notice of the contamination.

• Learn more about the recall and the risks of salmonella here.

3 Products Impacted
^{Do you have any of these at home?}

• ANSWERS Pet Food Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs

  • 4lb (1/2 Gallon Carton)

  • UPC code: 856554002102

  • Expiration is 05/2026

  • Lot Code: BUBD May 06, 2026

• ANSWERS Pet Food Straight Beef Formula for Dogs

  • 4lb (1/2 Gallon Carton)

  • UPC code: 856554002072

  • Expiration is 01/2026

  • Lot Code: BUBD Jan 31, 2026

• ANSWERS Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs

  • 4lb (1/2 Gallon Carton)

  • UPC code: 856554002065

  • Possible expiration dates are 01/02/2026, and 03/11/2026

  • Lot Codes are BUBD, followed by one of the expiration dates above.

Get Reimbursed for Eligible Vet Bills!

Spot pet insurance plans can reimburse up to 90% of eligible vet costs.

Spot’s customizable plan options can help put money back in your pocket. Receive an additional 10% multi-pet discount for all pets enrolled after the first.

Get my free quote

Independent and paid ad from Spot. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms visit spotpetins.com/sample-policy. Products, schedules, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout.
Insurance plans are underwritten by either Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC 1126581. A Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254) or United States Fire Insurance Company (NAIC #21113. Morristown, NJ), and are produced by Spot Pel Insurance Services, LLC. (NPN If 192463il5. 990 Biscayne Blvd Suite 603, Miami, FL 33132. CA License 116000188).

Emotional Recovery Tails
Pittie Learns to Love Again

How to Solve Excessive Barking
^{Guide by Neil Cummins}

People tend to have lots to say, and dogs are no different. Our canine family members often want to share their news, views, and emotions with us and barking is a vital method of communication.

However, that’s not always ideal if you live near neighbors, have young children, or simply value peace and quiet. 

I grew up in a duplex, with my mother rescuing animals from the street and rehoming them from our garage. A particularly cute litter of puppies caught the eye of our next-door neighbor, who adopted one – and for the next decade, our kitchen echoed to its howls and whines through the wall. If only its owners had tried to reduce its propensity to bark…

Why Do Dogs Bark?

To understand how to stop dogs from barking so much, we need to recognize why they’re so talkative in the first place. Some dogs are naturally chatty, but a sudden uptick in barking suggests a new issue has arisen.

Let’s look at the common types and causes of barking, so you can diagnose why your friend might be barking so much. 

1. Excitement

“It’s time for a walk! You’re home! Look at that moth!”

Many dog breeds are naturally excitable, keen to share their latest discovery with us or simply wanting us to acknowledge them.

Type of bark: High-pitched and rapid, often two at a time.

Body language: A wagging tail and raised ears.

2. For Attention

Dogs may bark or whine to attract attention for various reasons – hunger, separation anxiety, boredom, the call of nature. Talking back to them might even encourage them to bark more!

Type of bark: A lengthy string of individual barks.

Body language: Normal posture, may have a wagging tail.

3. Anxiety/Aggression

Some dogs bark when the mail comes through the door, as they see the mailman approaching, or even when they hear his van outside. They may feel the need to defend their home territory.

Type of bark: Deeper, slower, often accompanied by a growl.

Body language: Tense muscles, hackles raised, tail tucked between their hind legs.

4. Discomfort

Sometimes a dog may be uncomfortable, fighting off infection or suffering from an injury we haven’t picked up on. We’d moan and groan – they bark and whine.

Type of bark: High-pitched, often strangled and whining, may trail off towards the end.

Body language: May flinch to the touch, ears flat, tail down.

5. Boredom

Dogs are pack animals, and don’t always like being left home alone or by themselves. They may respond to a lack of mental or physical stimulation with destructive behaviors – or lots of noise.

Type of bark: A low, repetitive, single bark or howl.

Body language: May be low to the ground with hind legs poised, ready to jump/run.

What Can You do About Barking?

Your journey to silent bliss starts by identifying which of the above behaviors is most likely to explain your dog’s noisiness. It’s also important to remember at the outset that dogs very quickly learn what works – and what doesn’t. If they howl and you give them a treat, they’ll associate howling with positive outcomes, which could make matters worse in the long run.

Expert Tip:

If you’ve had reports of barking while you’ve been out of the house, invest in an indoor camera. Your dog won’t know it’s being filmed, but you’ll be able to see exactly what happens when you’re not around. 

Also consider where your dog is – if it’s pawing at the front door, it may simply need to answer the call of nature. If it’s outside its food cupboard, hunger would be an obvious explanation. Dogs rarely bark for no reason, so these are our tips for addressing excessive whining or yapping… 

Check your dog’s health

If the barking could be due to pain or discomfort, a trip to the vet is essential. They’ll check joint movement, dental hygiene and diaphragm compression, potentially identifying a physical issue which can be treated. Some dogs may bark more if their hearing is getting worse, too.

Consider stimulation levels

Could your dog be feeling like it’s missing out on exercise, attention or companionship? You can’t quit work, but you could investigate working from home more often, buying new toys or enrolling it in doggy daycare. A bored dog won’t just bark more – it could become destructive.

Reduce anxieties

Dogs may bark in response to feeling anxious, defensive or startled. Can you reduce key triggers by obscuring door glass or adding soundproofing? Professional dog trainers might be able to reduce negative emotions, and building stronger bonds with your pet could also help.

Develop a daily routine

Another way to mitigate anxieties is with a consistent daily routine. Like people, dogs are creatures of habit. If they know their various needs will be attended to at certain times – a brush before dinner, a walk before bed – they’ll be less likely to vocalize concerns or make demands.

Teach an old dog a new trick

The trick in question being silence! Teach it to sit and be quiet for a few seconds, rewarding it with a treat, a pat and a word of praise. Extend this period by a couple of seconds each time, and your dog should soon come to identify being quiet with treats and human affection.

Final Thoughts

Asking a dog not to bark is like asking a person not to talk – it’s unnatural. However, if your dog is being excessively vocal, the above steps should mitigate matters. Do bear in mind that every breed has different characteristics, and every dog is the sum total of its life experiences; there aren’t always one-size-fits-all explanations for barking.

^{_{The Tail Wag Tribune}}
This Week’s Key Pet News

Missing Cat Found 900 Miles Away
^{He got loose in Yellowstone}

A cat got loose in Yellowstone National Park, a place that’s home to the full gamut of wild predators and unforgiving terrains.

In some kind of miracle, this cat was found near his home, 900 miles away, only a few weeks from the time he was lost in the national park. His owners believe he made the trek mostly on his own. However he got home, it is truly a miraculous story.

Abandoned Dog Finds Perfect Home 
^{Heartbreaking video with a happy ending}

Surveillance footage captured an unidentified car leaving a dog in an apartment complex. It’s deplorable to watch because the dog clearly wonders where his owner is going and wants to get back into the car.

Fortunately, the man whose camera caught the incident was the owner of another abandoned dog of the same breed. Needless to say, the abandoned dog was welcomed into this man’s home with open arms and is now in a much better environment than he was before.

So, while this video will break your heart, it will also put it back together and remind you that there are still a lot of good people out there.

Man Saves as Many Dogs as He Can
^{All from kill shelters}

A young man is rescuing dogs in their time of need. Dylan Mellor is rescuing dogs from kill shelters just in time to save their lives.

Even though he lives in a two-bedroom apartment, he’s filling it with adoptable dogs because “they deserve someone who will make sacrifices for them.” Watch this young man’s inspiring story of love and dedication to dogs below.