The Benefits of Classroom Pets
How children can benefit from pets in the classroom. Pets and kids seem like a natural match. Not always, but many times they are quite...
Pawsome Friends
Pets are an important part of our lives and deserve the best care possible. Explore pet care, nutrition, behavior, training, and health, as well as personal stories and advice from other pet owners.
Editor's Picks
Tips for Trips with Pets
Some pets make great travel companions. Here are some things to know about traveling with pets. Most pet parents are quite familiar with that sad,...
Seasonal Allergy Tips for Pets
Help keep your pet itch-free with these natural strategies for allergy season. As we fully embrace the sights and sounds of spring—birds singing, bees buzzing,...
Recent Articles
Outlets at San Clemente Seeking Cute Pups
(Photo Courtesy of Outlets at San Clemente) Ultimutt Contest for Cutest Dog In anticipation of National Pet Day on April 11, Outlets at San Clemente is seeking the cutest pup in Southern California to become the “Ultimutt” of the oceanside shopping center. Beginning March 26 and continuing through April 4, interested dog owners can enter their dogs into the contest by sending in a photo of their furry friend taken at Outlets at San Clemente at ShopOSC.com/Ultimutt. For extra votes, doggie candidates can also post their photo on Instagram, tagging @OutletsSC and #OSCultimutt. Every like will be an extra vote. Voting...
Top 5 Tax Deductions for Pet Owners in 2021
After the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone could use a break on their taxes. Even though pet parenting might feel like a full-time job, you can’t claim them as a dependent on your tax return. But you might be able to qualify for pet-related tax deductions that can help you keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket. Here is what PawlicyAdvisor.com is sharing about what to know when getting tax deductions for your pet in 2021. Potential Tax Deductions for Pet Owners Pet-related tax deductions only apply to specific situations. They’re often associated with service animals and pets that...
Gifts for Pets
Holiday gift ideas for all those furry members of the family. West Paw Toys Pets-, people- and planet-minded toy and accessories manufacturer, West Paw, has an extensive line of durable dog toys for all chew and snuggle levels. This year, the company also launched a line of holiday-themed toys to keep in the season’s spirit. Just one example is the Merry Monster, made with furry material, two embroidered eyes, a bright red nose, and stuffed with eco-friendly fiber fill and squeaker. The 7-inch super-soft dog toy is ready for your dog to pounce. All toys are handcrafted in the USA...
Dogs & Separation Distress
All the time at home may create some separation anxiety issues for pets in the future. We’ve been spending a lot of time at home. And for pet owners that also means more time with our pets — a good thing. But this can also potentially lead to some distress down the line when we do start to head back to work and school. “We are already seeing more symptoms of separation anxiety with our current clients as they begin to leave the home a little more,” said Orange County-area professional dog trainer Yo Armendariz, owner and founder of Canine...
Sharing the Love of Dogs
[caption id="attachment_42793" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Stars of "We Need to Talk" — Grizzly, Everly and Mila[/caption] Irvine mom and artist writes children’s book to help spread compassion and understanding of dogs. When Desiree Udell-Nguyen was 10, she didn’t like school much. “I was bullied and felt terrible when I was at school,” says Udell-Nguyen, of Irvine. “What got me through the day was knowing my dog, Ben, was waiting for me.” Ben would sometimes even escape from home and come to her school. “The front office got to know him and would even say: ‘Could Desiree or Greg — my brother —...
Pet Therapy Goes Virtual
[caption id="attachment_36259" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Courtesy of Orange County Animal Allies[/caption] Even pet therapy groups are changing the way they do things in the COVID-19 world. We are all adapting to our new world of sheltering-in-place and social distancing in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. That includes therapy dog teams like those with Orange County Animal Allies, formerly known as Orange County SPCA. “With the COVID-19 pandemic and state-mandated, stay-at-home orders in place, physical visitation programs have been completely suspended,” said Executive Director Kevin Marlin. “I took the initiative early on to cancel all visits in the first...
Sheltering with Pets
[caption id="attachment_36012" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society[/caption] Staying home can provide some new avenues to bond and play with pets. We’re all home. Stress is high and a version of cabin fever may have started to set in. Our pets may be getting a little antsy too. But just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and de-stress — especially when our pets are involved. In fact, there are many activities we can do with our pets while sheltering in place. Here are some ideas to help mix things up: Start the day in...
Can Pets Get COVID-19?
The pandemic is causing anxiety about the safety of all members of the family. There is a lot of anxiety about Coronavirus Disease 2019, aka COVID-19. For pet owners, that anxiety has undoubtedly extended to the safety of their companion animals. Can pets get sick from coronavirus? Though more information and research is still necessary about how COVID-19 is transmitted, health officials are currently saying this is unlikely. "There is no reason at this time to think that any animals, including pets, in the United States might be a source of infection with this new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To...
Pet Friendly OC Locations
It isn’t difficult to find fun places to spend quality time with your pets in Orange County. Spending time with pets is always a treat for everyone in the family. Who doesn’t get a little sad when you can’t take the pets somewhere? Lucky for us in Orange County, there are actually plenty of places we can take them for some always-appreciated quality time. According to Orange County Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kate Connell, locations can include hardware stores, pet stores, cafes with dog-friendly patios and outdoor shopping malls. But she advises to remember to always be courteous, clean up...
The Benefits of Classroom Pets
How children can benefit from pets in the classroom. Pets and kids seem like a natural match. Not always, but many times they are quite fond of each other. And there’s something to it. Research has been supporting the idea that animals can benefit children — even in the classroom. “Many studies have shown and confirmed that companion animal ‘pets’ have taught children to be gentler and caring to all living beings, which they retain as grownups,” said holistic veterinarian and researcher Dr. Jean Dodds, of Hemopet veterinary center in Garden Grove. Hemopet recently posted an article on its blog...
Keeping Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season
The holidays are a time for family, giving and celebration. It can be a happy time for all members of the family — including pets. But there are also a host of new people, decorations and food in your pet’s environment that can put him at risk. “While the holidays are a time of celebration, for pets, many of our traditions pose hazards,” said Orange County Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kate Connell, owner of Calmer Canines pet training. For starters, many common holiday foods can pose risks for pets. Connell said corn on the cob — both decorative and edible...
Healthy Food for Healthy Pets
While most brands are labeled healthy, experts disagree. You want your pet to have a long, healthy life, and you do your best to accomplish this. So maybe you have a checklist: Daily walks? Check. Regular grooming and dental cleanings? Check. Annual physicals? Check. Quality pet food? Check? As with humans, good nutrition is a big part of health. And while many pet food brands say they are healthy, some pet owners and industry experts disagree. “Pets were never meant to eat little brown pellets,” said Shawn Buckley, founder of Orange County-based JustFoodForDogs, which makes food fit for humans fresh...
Picking a Trainer for Your Pets
Learn what to look for in training for your pet. Winston loves running off with fuzzy slippers. Bailey enjoys digging holes in the backyard. Fluffy enjoys getting into the garbage can when left unattended. Sometimes our pets develop some habits we’d like them to break out of … but we don’t always know how to help them. Whether it’s a behavior we don’t like or simply learning the basics, Orange County Certified Professional Dog Trainer Sherry Nativo, from All About Training Dogs (www.allabouttrainingdogs.com) recommends that all dogs get some form of training. “One of the biggest mistakes that dog owners...
Tips for Trips with Pets
Some pets make great travel companions. Here are some things to know about traveling with pets. Most pet parents are quite familiar with that sad, puppy-dog look whenever they leave home and wave to their four-legged child as they head off to work. We love our pets and want to bring them with us to places as much as they’d like to go—especially vacations. But is bringing our dogs and cats with us during travel a good idea? Orange County Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kate Connell says it really depends on your pet’s temperament, physical health and the form of...
Safety Tips When Taking Your Dog Swimming
Dogs can get a lot out of a day at the pool or beach. Help keep them safe with these expert tips. Some dogs can’t wait to take a dip in the pool on hot days. Others are a little more wary and may require some persuasion. Regardless of your type of dog, spending a day at the pool or dog beach can have many benefits. “Swimming itself is a great type of exercise for dogs because it has low impact on their bones but provides a good amount of resistance due to the water, which enables them to work...
Seasonal Allergy Tips for Pets
Help keep your pet itch-free with these natural strategies for allergy season. As we fully embrace the sights and sounds of spring—birds singing, bees buzzing, butterflies migrating and the super blooms that recently overtook Southern California—there’s another bit of imagery that pet owners are less happy about: seeing our pets itch. Spring often brings with it a set of less desirable symptoms for allergic pets, which is why spring is often known as allergy season for our pets (and many of us). “Pollens, plants and grasses are more abundant,” said Dr. Kathy Wentworth, holistic veterinarian at PetPoint Medical Center &...
America’s Family Pet Expo Is Back In Town
The annual expo focuses on education, pet adoptions and entertainment for the family. Midnight had been at WAGS Pet Adoption in Westminster for 687 days when he was adopted at last year’s America’s Family Pet Expo at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. “He was a black cat that got very little interest at our shelter, but with the huge amount of people walking by our booth, he caught his new family’s eye,” said Cortney Dorney, director of operations at WAGS. “All of the staff and volunteers working that day had tears in their eyes as they...
Priceless Pet Animal Rescue Orphanage
The Orphanage is a unique storefront concept for rescue pets to live and stay while finding a new home. Look at any pet adoption website and it’s pretty easy to see that many animals in Orange County—and elsewhere—need good homes. This need is the inspiration behind a rescue designed like a pet store, with one important distinction: the pets are all adoptable. The concept of The Orphanage is that it’s a place where homeless pets live until they find a new home, says Mandy Stover, co-founder and director of Priceless Pet Rescue (www.pricelesspetrescue.org), which runs these unique adoption centers. Priceless...
Pets in Divorces
New state law considers pet care in divorce cases. Walking through the front door of your home and finding an enthusiastic dog waiting to lavish you with affection and kisses is most likely the highlight of many a pet owner’s day. Most pet owners can agree: Pets are family. And now, as of Jan. 1, divorce courts are legally acknowledging what we’ve all known in our hearts since laying eyes on that very first dog, cat, parrot, iguana, etc. Assembly Bill No. 2274, approved by the governor last year, takes effect this year in divorce court proceedings. It essentially allows...
Should You Give Pets as Gifts for the Holidays?
For families who love animals, getting a pet for the holidays seems like the perfect gift. But is it? It’s not a simple yes or no, but with the right guidance, it could be. Shelters like WAGS Pet Adoption in Westminster (wagspetadoption.org) are in constant need of good homes for dogs, cats, rabbits and even the occasional bird, lizard, guinea pig, hamster or turtle. A recent estimate by Director of Operations Cortney Dorney is that they have about 50 dogs, 185 cats/kittens and a little more than 100 rabbits in need of good homes. But despite that, WAGS is trying...