Categories
Birds New Pets

Thinking of Getting Backyard Chickens? Don’t Wing It

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Recognizing the emotional and physical needs of chickens reduces stress for them and you.

Categories
Dogs Fears & Anxieties

The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Dogs

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes Is your dog relaxed, interested, anxious, getting scared, or ready to run for the hills? You can tell a lot by reading his body language and paying attention to his vocalizations. In our handout, we offer tips on how to recognize whether your dog’s level of fear, anxiety, or stress is escalating. If you have […]

Categories
Cats Life at Home Training & Grooming

Clip Those Claws! Tips on Trimming Your Cat’s Nails

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes A cat’s claws are formidable weapons. Cats keep them sharpened and groomed by scratching–ideally on a scratching post–but to protect our own delicate skin from accidental scratches, it’s also important to keep claws trimmed. In our handout, we offer advice on how to accustom your cat to the process, offer the best rewards, and trim […]

Categories
Birds Cats Dogs Equines Fears & Anxieties Other Uncategorized

Lives Regained at Pet-Friendly Domestic Violence Shelter

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes When people don’t leave situations of domestic violence, it’s often because they fear for the welfare of their pets. Only 10 percent of shelters for victims of domestic violence have facilities that can accept pets as well as people, so women stay rather than risk harm coming to their pets. A 2021 report from the […]

Categories
Activities & Enrichment Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Holidays

Give Your Pets a Fear Free Fourth of July

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes The Fourth of July should be fun for the whole family, your pets included. Fireworks, parades, large numbers of strangers, and other out-of-the-ordinary experiences can be stressful and scary to your pet. Follow the tips in this handout to celebrate the Fourth of July and keep it Fear Free for your pets.

Categories
Activities & Enrichment Cats Life at Home

It’s Cat’s Play: Fun Feline Enrichment

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes High perches, secret hideouts, falling water: Cats are adventurers at heart, but they can be limited by the interiors of their homes. In our handout, we share some easy ways to build a paradise that will allow them to live out their catly dreams of exploration, fulfill their feline destiny, and still make it to […]

Categories
Equines Fears & Anxieties Other Training & Grooming

Tricks and Treats Help Horses Gain Courage

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes When a horse becomes part of your life, it is important to help him learn to deal with changes and unusual interactions without fear.

Categories
Cats Fears & Anxieties Life at Home

In From the Cold: How a Community Cat Came to an Indoor Life

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes They often prefer to live the wild life, but some community cats can be wooed to live happily indoors.

Categories
Dogs Shelters & Fostering

Hotel for Homeless Dogs Reshapes Traditional Shelter Models

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Since enrichment is a cornerstone of the Fear Free Shelter Program, it’s always exciting to hear of creative ways shelters work to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) while providing for the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals in their care. The Hotel for Homeless Dogs is a shelter founded on the notion that reducing […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Holidays

New Year’s Eve Is a Blast, But Not for Pets: How to Keep Them Safe

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes The celebration of the old year winding down and the new year beginning can be rowdy and raucous. That’s fun for people but can cause fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. But you can still enjoy a swinging New Year’s Eve while keeping furry family members calm and happy. Follow the tips in this handout […]