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Owner Goes on 5-Day Trip—Nothing Could Have Prepared Her for Dog's Reaction
Owner Goes on 5-Day Trip—Nothing Could Have Prepared Her for Dog's Reaction

Newsweek

time16 hours ago

  • 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.

Shih Tzu credited with saving the lives of 2 tiny kittens
Shih Tzu credited with saving the lives of 2 tiny kittens

CTV News

time2 days ago

  • General
  • CTV News

Shih Tzu credited with saving the lives of 2 tiny kittens

Two rescued kittens are seen in this image handed out by the B.C. SPCA. The B.C. SPCA is crediting a Shih Tzu named Laynee with saving the lives of two tiny kittens in the Okanagan last week. Laynee was out for a bathroom break in the early morning hours of July 11, when she refused to come back into the house, her owner Brady Verhaeghe told the charity. Instead, the dog was focused on something hidden underneath a bush. Verhaeghe walked over to investigate when he heard a meow. Under the bush was a little black kitten, nose-to-nose with his dog. 'I picked up the kitten and was walking away when I heard another faint 'meow.' Laynee went straight back to the bush, and we spent a half an hour trying to get the other kitten to come out,' he said in a Friday media release from the B.C. SPCA. The second kitten eventually emerged and Verhaeghe brought them inside, as it was dark out and they were shivering. 'Both kittens nestled into my arms right away,' he said. 'You could tell they were longing to be helped – they didn't hesitate at all.' Verhaeghe put the kittens in a box by his bed, and Laynee kept a close eye on the new arrivals. He told the B.C. SPCA his Shih Tzu is usually shy around other animals, so he was surprised by her reaction to the kittens. 'They didn't make much noise, but every time they did, Laynee would immediately check on them, she didn't mind them crawling all over her,' he said. Laynee Laynee the Shih Tzu is seen in this image handed out by the B.C. SPCA. The next day, Verhaeghe put the kittens back under the bush in case their mother returned, but when no cat appeared for a few hours, he brought them to the B.C. SPCA shelter in Kelowna. 'When we examined the kittens, they were really thin and their gums were pale, but they were bright-eyed and hungry which was a good sign,' said Shannon Paille, manager of the animal centre, in the release. 'They are so young they need to be bottle-fed. One of our amazing B.C. SPCA fosters is continuing the kittens' care in their home, which is the best place for them to be.' The B.C. SPCA says the finder did the right thing. The organization advises people who find young kittens to leave them be if they don't look sick or injured – their mother is likely out hunting and will return. But if the animals appear hurt or ill, are in an unsafe spot, or the cat doesn't return, they should be taken to a rescue. As for the kittens Laynee found, the B.C. SPCA says they will be up for adoption once they reach eight weeks old.

Senior Golden Retriever Has Backyard Pool Surprise—His Face Says It All
Senior Golden Retriever Has Backyard Pool Surprise—His Face Says It All

Newsweek

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • Newsweek

Senior Golden Retriever Has Backyard Pool Surprise—His Face Says It All

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. In a heartwarming TikTok video, a senior golden retriever named Hurley has captured hearts all over the internet with his priceless reaction to getting a pool built in his backyard just for him. The viral video, shared on Tuesday under the username @ opens with a view of construction workers installing the new pool. This is followed by footage of the pup and his younger brother Monk having the best time swimming in it. "POV [point of view]: you're a 14-year-old golden retriever and your parents put in a pool just for you," reads layover text in the clip. A caption says: "He's almost 15, he deserves it! We luv [love] you brudder Hurley!" Heather Hughes, from North Carolina, told Newsweek that Hurley has brought "so much joy to [their] family" for over a decade, and they are grateful every day for these slower, sweeter moments with him. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2023 and, through my treatment, sickness and recovery, he was right there by my side. I actually feel he perked up more so he could nurse me back to health. He never left my side," Hughes said. "Because he became so clingy to me during this time, (his brother, a rescue, died about the time I was diagnosed) we decided to add to the family," she added. "Right after my last treatment, we got Monk; he was actually born on Breast Cancer Awareness Day. My goal is to train him to become a therapy dog. Sharing joy online has become a big part of our journey." While many dogs like Hurley and his younger brother love water, others don't like it as much, or at all. Experts at Pet MD say that, due to physical build, temperament, or health issues, some breeds may not be too eager to get into the water, whether it is a pool or the beach. One such breed is the pug. Because of its flattened nose, they usually have breathing problems, which makes it harder for them to perform strenuous physical activities such as swimming. The dachshund is another example of a breed that doesn't get along well with water. Because their bodies are so long and their legs short, wieners have to work harder to swim and stay afloat than many other breeds. Long-haired dogs like the Shih Tzu may also not enjoy being in the water that much. Regardless of your dog's breed and their swimming abilities, it is very important that you introduce them to swimming in a gentle, gradual way. You should also always make sure that they are wearing a life vest, even if they are great swimmers. Stock image: A happy golden retriever having the best time in the pool rests its paws on the side. Stock image: A happy golden retriever having the best time in the pool rests its paws on the side. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 1.4 million views and more than 28,000 likes on the platform. One user, Pborosky, commented: "GREAT exercise for any senior or just hanging out. No stress on the joints in the pool." Fatbaby504 said: "Definitely deservesssssss this." Jennlynnreames added: "Our Goldens have a lake house. They're literally the only reason we keep sinking money into it." Newsweek reached out to @ for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case. 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.

10-Year-Old Shih Tzu Crowned World's 'Ugliest' Dog in Need of Forever Home
10-Year-Old Shih Tzu Crowned World's 'Ugliest' Dog in Need of Forever Home

Newsweek

time3 days ago

  • General
  • Newsweek

10-Year-Old Shih Tzu Crowned World's 'Ugliest' Dog in Need of Forever Home

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. In an unofficial competition, an animal rescue organization marketed one of their available dogs as the world's "ugliest" in hopes of gathering attention for his adoption, while also proving that there's no such thing as an ugly dog. When a fellow rescuer reached out to Mac's Mission about Joiner, the organization immediately stepped in to help. One look at him told them everything: He needed attention. "He was absolutely covered in fleas, with painful scabs across his body, especially around his neck, where it looked like a collar had once been," a representative from Mac's Mission told Newsweek. "It was clear he had been neglected for far too long." Some described him as "cute in an ugly kind of way," but to Mac's Mission, they thought he was perfect—patchy fur, scabby skin and all. During his time at the rescue organization, the 10-year-old Shih Tzu received nicknames such as Crusty, Crustopher and "The World's Ugliest Dog." That's when it dawned on the organization to run with that title, hoping to attract the perfect forever home in a witty Facebook post. "We used his funny nicknames to share his story on social media—and guess what? The world noticed," the representative said. "His post sparked a big conversation and, most importantly, gave this scruffy sweetheart the attention he deserves." Photo of Joiner, a senior canine available for adoption, who some people are claiming could be the world's "ugliest" dog. Photo of Joiner, a senior canine available for adoption, who some people are claiming could be the world's "ugliest" dog. Mac's Mission/Facebook The July 15 Facebook post reached over 6,300 likes and 1,100 shares within two days. People flocked to the comment section, defending Joiner's perfect self. "No, there's no such thing as an ugly dog, especially this one," wrote one Facebook user. "Bless his sweet heart! Praying for a loving home soon," another person wrote in the comments. However, the attention has yet to lead to his forever family. The representative said there had been no interest in adoption for Joiner so far. Until that day comes, he's happily enjoying his time with the organization's medical fosters as he is recovering from his severe flea allergy that left his skin and fur in "ruins." He began antibiotics and has since been diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur. Those interested in adopting Joiner or another available animal can apply through the Mac's Mission website. "Joiner may have been overlooked before, but around here, he's nothing short of a star," the organization said. "Ugly? Nah. We call it character." 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.

Greater Chennai Corporation plans to launch app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in two months
Greater Chennai Corporation plans to launch app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in two months

The Hindu

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • The Hindu

Greater Chennai Corporation plans to launch app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in two months

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will launch an app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in the households of the city in two months. The civic body will make licensing and microchipping mandatory for pet dogs. However, microchipping of cats will not be mandatory. GCC councillors will decide the penalty for residents who fail to get licences and microchips for the dogs this month. The GCC has opened technical bids for the development of the app. The civic body has estimated that there are 1 lakh pet dogs in the households of the city. Over 11,000 pet dogs and a few cats have been licensed in the city under the online system for licensing. Labrador retrievers have been the dominant breed among the dogs registered in the city. Other breeds registered by residents include German shepherd, golden retriever, and Shih Tzu. Once the app is launched, the GCC will monitor the dogs' vaccination status and improve rabies surveillance. The app and pet animal management system will be eventually expanded to all parts of the State. The number of pets per household will be restricted in the city. A pet ownership policy will be prepared for Tamil Nadu following the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Board of India. Currently, the GCC collects information about the breed, sex, and age of dogs during online registration. After the app is launched, information such as health status, body weight, annual revaccination, and deworming every three months will be collected. It will monitor the information about deworming to reduce the risk of human tapeworm caused by the faecal matter of the dogs. Puppies have to be dewormed every month to prevent risk of zoonotic diseases, officials said. The GCC has microchipped 6,500 community dogs with information about location, date of birth control surgery, vaccination date, and health status. It will be able to retrieve information about the dogs by scanning the rice-sized chip implanted in their necks. A total of 1.8 lakh stray dogs have been identified in the city.

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