June 2024

A shelter dog’s special field trip outside the kennel has touched people’s hearts online as the break from the stressful environment gave him a chance to showcase his personality. Duke, the 2-year-old Labrador mix, was brought in as a stray by an animal care and control officer to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS) in Conroe, Texas. Duke has waited patiently for an adopter to come forward for over 290 days. At one point, he thought his forever family came forward, but that unfortunately fell through, Courtney Gawel, live release manager at MCAS, told Newsweek via email. However, that hasn’t stopped Duke from holding onto hope. Gawel said he constantly greets potential adopters at the front of his kennel. If that wasn’t enough to lure his future family in, the personality he showed during his recent field trip will surely do the trick. A video posted to Facebook on Monday by the animal shelter highlighted Duke’s field trip where he got to go on a walk outside, explored Lowe’s, and received a well-deserved pup cup. While on the trip, Duke showed he is a calm and composed dog. He loves receiving scratches, has great leash manners, is nonreactive to other dogs, and is extremely gentle around children. Duke, the 2-year-old Labrador mix, was brought in as a stray by an animal care and control officer to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS) in Conroe, Texas. A video posted to Facebook on Monday… Montgomery County Animal Shelter Texas/Facebook The field trip showed Duke’s true personality. The MCAS wrote in its post that Duke usually appears crazy in the kennel since he is cooped up all day. But as soon as he was out, he was a different dog when away from the stresses of the shelter. “Our foster field trip program is very popular in our area and we have several volunteers and foster families that take dogs regularly on day trips or even overnight trips,” Gawel said. Field trips like the one Duke went on are very beneficial for shelter dogs as they are an excellent stress reliever for dogs, according to the website BeChewy. It also gives dogs one-on-one attention which is hard to give animals packed in overcrowded shelters. Shelters benefit from field trips too. Those who take the dogs out can report how the dog acted in a more natural environment or reacted to other pets and children. Plus, volunteers can get better pictures to showcase these animals. BeChewy reported that field trips can also lead to shorter shelter stays. Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet “Shelter Watch Report” found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation. Facebook Users React Monday’s Facebook post so far has had over 11,000 views and 855 likes. “He just wants you to know how good he is out & wanting a forever home to give his love & receive his affection for you!” wrote one Facebook user. Another commented: “I pray he gets a home soon!! Every animal deserves that.” A third Facebook user posted: “He’s been in the shelter long enough and deserves a home!” Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup. Uncommon Knowledge Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Read More

Plenty of dog parents dream about the day they are able to move into a home with a giant backyard for their canine to run around as much as they want, but until that time comes, one owner has shown there is still a “suite life” to apartment living. Owner Ava shared in an April 19 TikTok video posted to the account @annatherescue that she always felt bad her rescue dog lived in an apartment. Then she started to realize her dog Anna loves apartment life. Instead of stressing or rushing to get Anna a new home, Ava learned to make her dog happiest with all that the apartment has to offer and surprisingly, there is quite a lot. From built-in friends and earning the status of a nosey neighbor status to office treats and daily zoomies, Anna is living the life. This has taught Ava one thing: “Our pups don’t care for material things…” She is sharing the message to other pet parents to take it as a sign that they should never feel bad for trying their best and that “everything is always what you make of it.” Screenshots from an April 19 TikTok video of a dog enjoying the perks of apartment life. She gets endless pets from other residents, treats from the office, and endless zoomies. @annatherescue/TikTok It doesn’t matter where you live with your pets as long as you provide them with food and endless love and affection. You’re their whole world and they’ll be happy just being with you. Plus, there are tips for owners living in an apartment with their canine roommates, to ensure their dogs get the best experience. Owners should consider making a space dedicated to their dogs where they feel safe and relaxed, pet blog Hepper reported. The article continues by suggesting owners potty train their dogs, especially when living in large apartments, and teach commands to avoid any possible trouble in or around the complex. Dogs need to stay entertained both mentally and physically for their overall health. What Did Viewers Say? The TikTok clip had over 894,400 views, 138,600 likes, and 234 comments as of Tuesday. “Doesn’t look like Anna could care less where she lives. She’s happy as long as she has you,” pointed out a viewer. Another added: “Living an enriched life in an apartment is so much better than wasting away in a shelter. You’re giving her a beautiful life, never doubt that!” And just as Anna is reaping the benefits of apartment living, those who live there are likely benefiting too. “If I lived in this apartment I would look forward to seeing her every day,” commented a third user. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup. Uncommon Knowledge Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Read More

A California rescue shelter that took in a senior dog from animal control discovered a marking on her belly that they believe shows she was saved from a breeding horror. An anonymous person brought Quinn, the senior French bulldog, to a local emergency vet in Fresno, California. The vet then contacted animal control, which took in Quinn until Valley Animal Center rescued her. The no-kill shelter then saw how much pain the 10-year-old dog had endured while she lived as a breeding dog. Quinn was in rough condition. Her back and neck were covered in scabs. Her eyes were filled with “defeat, sadness and hopelessness.” The animal shelter even discovered an identifying tattoo on Quinn’s belly. These numbered markings can mean different things, like identifying a pet or a breeding, Valley Animal Center told Newsweek via TikTok. But based on the amount of scar tissue on her belly, it appears Quinn had multiple litters. The April 27 TikTok video, posted to the account @valleyanimalcenter, shows how broken Quinn feels. You can see she’s tattered on the outside, and her eyes give a glimpse of the sadness she must feel inside. Screenshots from an April 27 TikTok video show a senior French bulldog named Quinn, who was taken in by a rescue shelter. The dog came from a breeding facility with a tattoo on her stomach. @valleyanimalcenter/TikTok Quinn has yet to find trust in humans. The “unimaginable horrors” she experienced make it difficult for her to embrace care with joy and gratitude. She is distant and struggles to connect with those at the animal shelter. She is on pain medication and antibiotics for her skin, and she receives medicated baths. Although still distant and sad, she has slowly started to get up from her kennel to greet staff members, Valley Animal Center said. “We do want to emphasize that at this moment we are not looking for an adopter, as we are still treating her and assessing her,” Valley Animal Center said. “Quinn will be with us until she is healed and ready for a forever family.” Aside from the pain in Quinn’s eyes, which is the result of her experience at the breeding facility, French bulldogs are known for their health problems. French bulldogs from extreme breeding are likely to have health impacts, Newsweek previously reported. They are at a higher risk of developing 20 common disorders, compared with other dog breeds. Research shows that Frenchies are 42 times more likely to suffer from narrow nostrils and 30 times more likely to develop obstructive airway syndrome. However, despite the problems associated with breeding them, this breed is still one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Frenchies topped the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular breeds in 2022 and 2023. Viewer Reactions Viewers’ hearts shattered after hearing about Quinn, and while she is not available for adoption yet, they are sharing her story in hopes that she receives the donations she needs for her treatment. As of Tuesday, the TikTok video had over 171,900 views, 21,900 likes and 2,098 comments. “The eyes say it all…This poor angel. I hope she lives out her days in a loving family,” wrote one viewer. Another said: “She deserves so much love. Praying she gets a forever home that brings her so much happiness.” A third wrote: “I’ve never burst into tears so fast. That poor baby. All she’s known is trauma. My heart is broken.” Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup. Uncommon Knowledge Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground. Read More