Lifestyle & Entertainment – Pet Friendly Sites

Abandoned, Injured Rabbit Gets the Help She Needs

Grier Holliday — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 07:18:26 +0000

During a fateful hike in 2013, in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, Elise Oliphant Vukosav and her husband came across an injured bunny that would change their lives. They, in turn, would forever change the bunny’s life as well.

The couple found the bunny huddled under a bush, unable to move her legs. “We knew she wasn’t a wild bunny, so we gently picked her up and brought her back to a retreat center where we worked and fed her kale and water,” Vukosav recalls. “She was so hungry and thirsty, so we took that as a good sign she wanted to keep living.”

When they were unable to find an animal rescue that wouldn’t have to put the bunny down because of her spinal injury, Vukosav and her husband decided to adopt and care for the rabbit, who they named ChiChi. “We are so glad we did,” Vukosav says. “She’s been one of the biggest blessings of our life.”

While they don’t know what caused ChiChi’s spinal fracture, Vukosav points out that bunnies are very fragile and these sort of injuries are not uncommon.

ChiChi’s spinal injury causes her body to be out of alignment. “Her front legs have a tendency to want to splay,” Vukosav explains. To navigate these issues, they started ChiChi on physical therapy (including water, massage, and cold laser therapies) and got her a cart so she could get around with ease.

Now a little over 4 years old, ChiChi goes to therapy at the Animal Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Center in San Diego a few times a month, while Vukosav helps her at home with scarf therapy, mobility exercises, and massages.

“The various forms of therapy we’ve tried have helped her gain more strength in her front legs, and more mobility in her hind legs,” she says. “I think it’s also provided enrichment for her and made her even more confident than she already was. Exercise is important for people, and for animals as well, so I think she really enjoys being able to be active.”

Of course, in addition to her physical activities, ChiChi has plenty of other things to keep her happy and motivated. As one of three rabbits cared for by the Vukosavs, ChiChi is bonded closely with her bunny brother, Mr. Magoo. “They are inseperable and he dotes on her, grooms her, snuggles her, and she reciprocates,” Vukosav says.

It’s hard not to fall in love with ChiChi, who Vukosav describes as “alert, attentive, loving, spunky, and very trusting.” She’s a brave and optimistic animal who is happy-go-lucky, no matter the circumstances, Vukosav adds.

It’s that very spirit that has forever changed Vukosav’s life and her perspective on animals and humans alike.

Caring for ChiChi has not only taught Vukosav how to care for a disabled rabbit, but also that “there’s no such thing as normal, and every bunny—every animal—is beautiful, even if they don’t maneuver in a usual fashion.”

“Most importantly,” she says, “ChiChi has taught me to be patient, kind, optimistic, to never lose hope, and to always take a chance on what might seem like the impossible.”

You can keep up with ChiChi on her very own website and Instagram, and help the Vukosavs care for her by visiting their YouCaring page.

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Life With Pets, Episode 6: All About Pit Bulls

Grier Holliday — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:41:14 +0000

In the sixth episode of petMD’s Life With Pets, host Victoria Schade welcomes journalist and author Bronwen Dickey to talk about her book “Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon.” Fellow dog trainer and Pit Bull advocate Lori Nanan stops by to answer a listener question about the “Pit Bulls need a heavy hand” training myth, and radio personality Richard Hunter tells a story about his best friend Mel, a Pit Bull rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring.

Listen to more episodes and subscribe so you don’t miss out!

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Life With Pets, Episode 3: Keeping a Tidy Home

Grier Holliday — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:10:16 +0000

Life With Pets, Episode 3: Keeping a Tidy Home | petMD

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In this episode of Life With Pets, host Victoria Schade chats with pet expert Julia Szabo, who gives advice on dealing with pet stains, odors and dirt, and explains how microfiber is a pet parent’s dream fabric. Victoria also welcomes fellow PodcastOne host and former “Bachelorette” Kaitlyn Bristowe to the show to discuss how her pup, the famous Tucker-Doodle, played a part in her recent home renovation with fiance Shawn B. And to close out the show, in the “Try This at Home” segment, Victoria attempts to describe a cat crafting project without the benefit of visuals. (Does she succeed? You be the judge!)

Share your favorite part of the episode, and you could win a $500 PetSmart gift card! Enter petMD’sLife With Pets podcast promotion here.

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petMD’s ‘Life with Pets’ Podcast Promotion

Grier Holliday — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 06:26:16 +0000

petMD’s ‘Life with Pets’ Podcast Promotion | petMD

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petMD’s new podcast, Life With Pets, is sponsoring an exciting promotion in which one lucky listener will receive a $500 PetSmart gift card. Enter the promotion using the form below. For more details, see the official rules.

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Life With Pets, Mini Episode 2: Mealtime Problems

Grier Holliday — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 09:15:59 +0000

Life With Pets, Mini Episode 2: Mealtime Problems | petMD

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On this mini-episode of petMD’s new podcast, Life With Pets, host Victoria Schade helps a listener figure out how to deal with their dog’s meal time neediness, which has them standing by while their dog decides to eat or skip what’s in his bowl. Victoria also discusses how to find a good dog trainer when there are an overwhelming number of options.

Got a pressing pet question you want answered? Use #AskLifeWithPets, and you might end up on a future episode!

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Life With Pets Episode 2: Tackling Behavioral Challenges

Grier Holliday — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 06:58:59 +0000

Life With Pets Episode 2: Tackling Behavioral Challenges | petMD

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In this episode Victoria talks canine aggression, separation anxiety and litterbox issues with Dr. Carlo Siracusa from Penn Vet. She also chats with Adam Carolla about his dog Phil, then welcomes Dr. Siracusa back to answer a listener question about excessive meowing. Victoria finishes up the show with a story about a leash aggressive dog that changed her life, and suggests a quick and easy training tool that can help with many canine behavioral challenges.

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Life With Pets, Mini Episode: All About Puppies

Grier Holliday — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:21:06 +0000

Life With Pets, Mini Episode: All About Puppies | petMD

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On this mini-episode of petMD’s new podcast, Life With Pets, host Victoria Schade takes questions from listeners about all things puppy. She talks about crate training with a first-time puppy parent who’s worried that crating her puppy might be cruel. She helps a puppy parent with a ball-obsessed adolescent mixed-breed dog learn to appreciate all of the toys in his toy basket. And she gets into specifics about when to start training a brand new puppy. Got a pressing pet question you want answered? Use #AskLifeWithPets, and you might end up on a future episode!

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Life With Pets, Episode 1: All About That Brain

Grier Holliday — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:07:39 +0000

Life With Pets, Episode 1: All About That Brain | petMD

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In the inaugural episode of petMD’s new podcast, Life With Pets, host Victoria Schade interviews cat behavior and cognition researcher Kristyn Vitale about the best ways to motivate and train cats to do a variety of fun tricks, and tells a story about her junior cat trainers who used a surprisingly successful training technique. Then, comedian and host of the My Two Cents podcast Bill Engvall stops by to chat about his canine crew, including his super clever dog, Jake the Aussie. Next, Victoria answers a listener question about whether clicker training can derail the puppy training process, and closes the episode with a canine cognition test you can try on your own furry best friend.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Your New Favorite Podcast, Life With Pets

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The Journey of Jenna: From Stray to Life-Saving Service Dog

Grier Holliday — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 12:33:09 +0000

September marks National Service Dog Month, and with it comes countless stories of heroism and love between these incredible canines and the people who rely on them.

One of those very dogs is Jenna, a 6-year-old medical alert and mobility service dog who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her person, Sarah Sheperd.

Sheperd, who has been deaf in her left ear since childhood, was involved in a car accident in 2007 that left her with long-term physical issues. But on May 31, 2011, Sheperd’s life would change in a whole new, positive way.

She adopted a then 5-month-old Jenna, who was on a kill-list at a shelter. “She had been a stray when they brought her into the shelter,” Sheperd told petMD. “She was sick, which is why she was put on the kill-list, because they couldn’t afford to treat her.”

By pure happenstance, Sheperd was at the shelter that day and met Jenna for the first time. An hour later, she was the mama to one very lucky and amazing pup. “I paid $40 for a dog who has saved my life more times than I can count,” she said.

From then on, Sheperd trained Jenna to be her service dog. “I noticed from day one she was wicked smart and deeply driven…[we] bonded instantly,” Sheperd recalled.

After two years of training, “Jenna started attending Purdue University with me as a full-fledged service dog,” Sheperd said. “She passed the Public Access Test that summer with flying colors. Having her with me during my second year at Purdue made all of the difference in the world.”

Since that day, Jenna has aided Sheperd in being a “normal” person, from Purdue and into the working world. She guides her through her health issues, such as migraines and other physical limitations. “She senses increases in blood pressure, will alert to unconscious increases in agitation, and hormonal changes that I don’t always notice but usually lead up to my migraines,” she described.

Even though Sheperd’s issues are an “ongoing, constantly changing process,” she said, Jenna is up to the task and has been able to “learn new things to accommodate new needs as time has gone on.”

From waking Sheperd up in the morning to helping her get up and down the stairs, Jenna has made the world an easier and less stressful place for her owner.

“I trust Jenna explicitly to keep me safe physically, so I don’t have to stress or worry,” Sheperd said. “From an emotional and mental standpoint, I have my best friend with me all of the time. There is a sense of peace and security with that.”

Because of Jenna, Sheperd has made it her mission to educate people about service dogs and the important role they play for people just like her. Sheperd speaks at schools, and even gave a presentation at her own job about the life of a service dog and the different types of people they help.

“The biggest thing I try to educate people on is about the idea of invisible disabilities,” Sheperd says. “Other than the fact that I walk a little funny, most people don’t know I am disabled and typically think I am training Jenna for someone else. In addition to the invisible disabilities, [I try] to make people understand that it takes more than for a dog to sit and lay down on command to be a service dog. This is a big misconception I would like to change.”

Jenna, who is now 6 years old and described by Sheperd as having “an old, serious soul,” will get to retire from her duties in a couple of years. Sheperd plans to adopt another puppy later this year to begin the training process. “By the time the puppy is ready to go, Jenna will be 9 years old and ready for the couch potato life.”

But even when Jenna transitions to retirement, her efforts as Sheperd’s service dog will never be forgotten. “Without Jenna, it would be very difficult for me to do the things that I do,” Sheperd said. “She literally pulls me forward most days and allows me to be independent.”

Image courtesy of Sarah Sheperd

Read more: 6 Service Dog Etiquette Tips

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Two Cats from the Same Household Have Guinness World Records

Grier Holliday — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 10:18:44 +0000

It’s a pretty rare and incredible thing to have one pet who finds himself in the 2017 Guinness Book of World Records, but it’s nothing short of mind-blowing to have two pets achieve such an impressive status.

But that’s exactly the case for Drs. Will and Lauren Powers of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who are pet parents to the record-breaking felines known as Arcturus Aldebaran Powers and Cygnus Regulus Powers.

Arcturus the Savannah (pictured right) received the title of tallest domestic cat (living and ever), measuring more than 19 inches, while Cygnus the Maine Coon (pictured left) has the longest tail on a domestic cat (living and ever), thanks to that fluffy and impressive 17-inch tail.

Will Powers (who is also cat dad to a third astronomically-named cat, 10-year-old Sirius Altair Powers), told petMD that statistically, “It’s pretty incredible…the probability of two being in one house seems almost impossible.”

He credits a healthy lifestyle for their impressive size. “Honestly, I think a lot of it has to do with diet,” he said. “We designed a special diet for them that they ate from the time they were kittens. I’m fairly confident this is the reason they are so insanely large and healthy.”

The happy and healthy cats, who are both over 2 years old, certainly keep the Powers family on their toes.

Powers said that Arcturus is something of a lockmaster. “He’s smart enough to open doors with a handle, and sometimes can even open door knobs!”

Because both cats have sturdy frames and such prowess, “Treats and other special snacks have to be kept locked away and hidden in special baby-proof cabinets, as they get into everything,” Powers told petMD. “If its not locked or secured, its accessible to them. Sometimes I think someone broke into the house while we were gone then I remember I have two giant brilliant cats who own me.”

Powers happily noted that all three of the cats in the household are “buddies….[they] sleep together in a pile and groom each other.”

“Cygnus and Arcturus constantly chase each other throughout the house and engage in ‘play’ fights where they pretend to nibble on each other or play a game where the goal is to lick the top of the head of the other cat,” he said. “They are constantly tumbling around and playing with things. Both are extremely high energy.”

What’s even more wild to consider: the cats haven’t even stopped growing. Powers told petMD that while the cats reached their record-breaking statuses a little over a year ago, “They’ve grown a ton since the records were broken.”

“We’re keeping their current measurements a secret, just in case anyone ever breaks their record,” Powers said. “That way, we can take it back!”

Image via @Starcats_Detroit Instagram

Read more: Cat Shatters World Record for Loudest Purr

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Lifestyle & Entertainment – Pet Friendly Sites

Abandoned, Injured Rabbit Gets the Help She Needs

Life With Pets, Episode 6: All About Pit Bulls

Life With Pets, Episode 3: Keeping a Tidy Home

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The Journey of Jenna: From Stray to Life-Saving Service Dog

Two Cats from the Same Household Have Guinness World Records