Latest news with #Separation
Newsweek
19-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Owner Goes on 5-Day Trip—Nothing Could Have Prepared Her for Dog's Reaction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog owner has shared what happened the first time she left her dog for a vacation, and the things she would do differently next time. Jenny, 42, from Davao City in the Philippines, had been planning a five-day trip with her husband, their first in five years. To ease the separation, she made sure Chief, her 3-year-old Golden Retriever, stayed home in a familiar environment surrounded by family and their other dogs. "We thought leaving him with family would be fine," Jenny, who didn't give a surname, told Newsweek. "My son, brother, and sister-in-law were here—we all live in the same compound. We also thought that since he had his pack, Scout, our 11-month-old Shih Tzu, and Bruce, our 11-year-old senior mixed dog, he'd be okay. We left some sweaty clothes so he'd have our scent, scheduled video calls... We really thought he'd be fine." But just two days into their trip, Chief began vomiting repeatedly. After the seventh episode, Jenny's brother-in-law rushed him to the only 24-hour vet clinic available in the area. The vets initially suspected he had ingested a foreign object and began discussing potential surgery. Chief the dog, who recently spent time away from his owners for the first time. Chief the dog, who recently spent time away from his owners for the first time. halfglass-cat/Reddit Jenny recalled her concern and instinct that something wasn't right. She pushed to pause surgery and instead take Chief to his regular vet for a check up. The diagnosis from Chief's regular vet came as a shock: stress-induced gastroenteritis, likely triggered by separation anxiety. "After a battery of tests and meds, the standing diagnosis was gastroenteritis due to separation anxiety. I was so relieved that surgery was off the table. I knew chicken would coax him back to health, and true enough, he started eating once they gave him roasted chicken," Jenny said. What is Dog Separation Anxiety? Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder where dogs experience significant distress when separated from their owner. Symptoms include excessive barking, whining, howling, destruction, house soiling and signs of psychological distress like panting, salivating and vomiting. While the causes of separation anxiety in dogs aren't always clear, there are factors believed to contribute. These include genetic and biological predispositions, environmental or life changes and hyper-attachment to the owner. There are ways to help prevent and deal with separation anxiety in dogs. Experts advise: Don't make a big deal about leaving. Don't make a big deal about returning home. Give the dog breaks throughout the day so it's away from you. Teach the dog the art of doing nothing and how to self-soothe. Spend quality time together, along with the breaks. Read more Woman feeds Dog common treat—then every owner's worst nightmare unfolds Woman feeds Dog common treat—then every owner's worst nightmare unfolds Thankfully, after being diagnosed and helped to settle down, Chief started feeling better, and the couple were able to start to enjoy their vacation 72 hours after it started. Looking back, Jenny recalled advice from a trainer that Chief might be overly attached to them. "One of his trainers once told us that Chief was 'extra' when we were around—that he might be too attached. He even suggested trying a day without us, just to help him adjust. But we never had the heart to leave him with strangers," she said. The incident cost the family around ₱28,000 ($489) in vet bills and travel to and from the hospital. But Jenny said that that the emotional toll, and the helplessness of not being there for Chief, was far worse. She shared their ordeal on Reddit, where she wanted to warn other pet owners about separation anxiety in pets. "He wasn't just missing us—his body literally couldn't handle the stress," Jenny wrote in the post, which amassed hundreds of upvotes since being shared last month. "If you're planning to leave your pet for the first time, especially if you're their whole world, please consider emotional prep as part of your planning." "I wanted to share our story because so many people love their pets deeply, and if our experience can help even one or two people avoid the stress, the panic, the expense, then that's enough," she said. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Govt set to shut utility stores by July 31
The federal government is all set to shut down its public retail sector, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) by July 31, it was learnt on Wednesday. The development came into light during a high-level meeting of the committee constituted by the Prime Minister to oversee the closure and privatisation of the USC today at the Finance Division, with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, in the chair, read a statement released by the Finance Division. The committee has been tasked with ensuring a smooth and transparent closure process, formulating a suitable Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for USC employees, and recommending a structured timeline for privatisation. During the meeting, the committee reviewed the progress made in light of the tasks assigned and held detailed deliberations on the way forward. Govt mulls closing utility stores nationwide, says Aon Abbas It was reaffirmed that, in accordance with the government's directives, all operations of USC will be closed by 31st July 2025. The committee also discussed at length the formulation of a fair and financially viable VSS for the USC employees. As per the statement, the committee members examined various dimensions of the proposed VSS, including its projected size, potential fiscal impact, and legal and operational implications associated with its structure and rollout. The committee recommended that the Privatisation Commission be consulted regarding the optimal structuring and feasibility of privatisation, or asset sales linked with the USC operations. Moreover, to facilitate a comprehensive analysis, the chair constituted a subcommittee headed by the Secretary Establishment Division. The committee will include representatives from the Finance Division and the Industries & Production Division to examine the legal and operational aspects, contours, size, and structure of the proposed VSS and submit its report to the main committee by the end of the week. This will allow the committee to consolidate its findings and finalise its report and recommendations to be submitted to the Prime Minister in line with the Terms of Reference.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds release delayed infrastructure grants, sending $8.6 million to Virginia
A railroad crossing in Virginia. (Sarah Vogelsong/Virginia Mercury) After years of bureaucratic limbo, Virginia is set to receive $8.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support a slate of infrastructure projects that were first announced three years ago. The funding comes as part of a national effort by the administration of former President Joe Biden to clear a backlog of 3,200 unobligated grants that had stalled 'critical investments' in communities nationwide, according to the agency. The department said Tuesday it has now cleared 1,065 of those projects but did not explain why the grants were delayed in the first place. Six awards are headed to Virginia, benefiting Ashland, Smithfield, Petersburg, Richmond and Salem. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation also received $5 million for Phase II of the Jamestown Scotland Ferry Facility Rehabilitation Project. 'While cynics in the press hysterically warned of doomsday delays, USDOT has been hard at work to get America building again,' U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. 'We've done this by refocusing the department on core infrastructure – not enacting a radical political agenda. With a third of the last administration's unprecedented backlog cleared, we will continue to rip out red tape roadblocks to get dirt moving.' Duffy said the agency is working 'diligently' to distribute these 'long-overdue' funds and prioritize core infrastructure projects. As part of the shift, the agency said it has eliminated several policies supported by the previous administration, including requirements tied to racial equity, climate change, and social justice. 'Removing these requirements will save taxpayers millions,' the agency stated, citing increased road construction costs and mandates to report greenhouse gas emissions. Among the Virginia recipients, the city of Richmond will receive $2 million — the second largest award in the state — for the Broad Rock Boulevard Grade Separation Study and Development. The project focuses on improving rail crossings with the goal of enhancing mobility by eliminating delays caused by blocked crossings. Town of Ashland – Ashland At-Grade Crossing Study – $421,200 City of Richmond – Broad Rock Boulevard Grade Separation Study and Development – $2,704,000 Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation – Jamestown Scotland Ferry Facility Rehabilitation Project (Phase II) Revised – $5,048,650 City of Petersburg – Petersburg's Safety Action Plan – $200,000 City of Salem – SS4A Safety Action Plan – $100,000 Town of Smithfield – Smithfield Safety and Connectivity Plan – $136,000 SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
