The AKC Board of Directors recently discussed problematic new “pet leasing” schemes in which prospective owners make hefty monthly payments for a pet, but are not given legal ownership of the pet. In response to this concerning trend, the Board has updated the AKC Canine Legislation Position Statement on Protection for Puppy Purchasers to include […]

October 9, 2015 A document released last week provides clarification and guidance on the USDA Retail Pet Store Rule and the Importation of Live Dogs Rule. This guidance contains no new policy changes, but highlights federal licensing requirements for individuals and groups that distribute or transport pets for transfer or sale within the United States. […]

A recent warning by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) claims that the time-honored tradition of throwing a stick to your dog can put your pet at risk of getting hurt. Sticks, the veterinarians claim, can puncture the dog’s mouth or cause other problems, like obstructions, splinters, and infections. "Our message is that these injuries are […]

You’ve likely heard of CDs and music playlists designed for babies—there are even prenatal tracks available for moms-to-be to hold against their belly in hopes of it having the so-called Mozart effect, helping their kids grow to be more intelligent adults. (Some researchers find this theory to be a load of baloney.) But how about […]

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are seeking the help of the public to name up to 13 puppies expected to be born this spring. The puppies, all German Shepherd Dogs, are bred at the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Alberta, Canada. “RCMP police service dog teams are an integral part of front line […]

A dozen four-legged heroes bravely served our country overseas, saving thousands of American lives. But for the past year and a half, they’d been living in limbo at a kennel in Chester, Virginia, while a contract company who purchased the dogs from the Department of Defense tried to place them as therapy dogs. The new […]

For many at-risk youth in New York City, violence and crime is an inescapable fact of life. But Audrey Hendler is hoping to change that, with the help of about 25 four-legged teaching assistants. In 2010, Hendler launched A Fair Shake for Youth, a program that brings therapy dogs into middle schools in under-served communities […]

Yet another police dog has been shot and killed in the line of duty. Smith County Deputy Constable K-9 Ogar, a young Belgian Malinois, who worked with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office in Texas was killed during a traffic stop on the afternoon of Jan. 19. Two individuals have been taken into custody, and a […]

Water was a common theme among this year’s photo-contest winners—images of dogs on beaches, at dock diving competitions, and in snow. Others showcased canine beauty in nature, silhouetted against a blazing sunset or bright blue skies. Then there’s one that made us all smile—a gray-muzzled retriever and a gray-haired man exchanging a glance through a […]

There's nothing harder than losing a loved one. This funeral home in Niles, Ind. aims to make the grieving process a little easier with the help of a grief therapy dog named Sir Winston Bailey Brown.     Sir Winston Bailey Brown is a four-month-old Golden Retriever and is currently training to be a grief […]