Dog News

A dog who has waited patiently for over a year in a shelter for her forever home has become a social media hit as animal lovers try everything to get her adopted. Melia, described as a nervous black dog, had spent 413 days at Hempstead Animal Shelter in New York as of Tuesday October 29. Shelter worker Lu, who has volunteered at Hempstead for five years, has shone a spotlight on Melia, saying the organization is the dog’s “only hope.” “She will not get out without our help,” Lu said. Lu’s Instagram page regularly features dogs who struggle to be adopted without a special push, and after helping shelter dog Bullseye get adopted, Lu has changed the account’s Instagram name to @adopt_melia_and_friends and is now posting daily clips and photos of Melia. “I feature pups that are struggling getting placed or just invisible and need to be seen,” Lu told Newsweek. One post on Melia has been seen by thousands of people, racking up over 21,000 likes in just two days since being shared on October 27. It shows Melia lying in a kennel, looking lonesome and staring out through the bars, alongside the words: “No one picks the nervous black dog. Now she is wasting away at 410 days here.” Melia has been looking for a home for 413 days. Her owners initially came back for her, but she ended back in the shelter not long after. Instagram @adopt_melia_and_friends The pup originally arrived at the shelter in 2022, after being found “hungry and alone in an apartment after her owners left her behind,” Lu said. Not long after being admitted, a family member reclaimed her—but she was back at the shelter months later. A foster placement proved short-lived “due to an incident in the home,” and the shelter is hoping for a “patient home” for Melia, “where she can learn there are good people who want to do right by her.” Shelter director Ashley Behrens told Newsweek: “Melia is a sweet but nervous dog who was taken from evictions both times she came in. The first time her owner came for her and the second time they did not. “Since she is a nervous dog, she does have a bite history because of her fear, but given the space she needs to grow accustomed to an individual, once she feels comfortable with you she is great!” Melia is still nervous in the kennels, but is hitting what shelter workers describe as “mini milestones,” and once outside is “eager to run, play and engage.” Melia needs a patient home, preferably with someone who has experience around nervous dogs. Shelter workers are confident she will “shine” with the right person. Instagram @adopt_melia_and_friends Lu told Newsweek: “She has a sad story of being abandoned by her family and then shuffled around, and we would like to finally find a home that will be her forever. Someone with experience with nervous dogs would be very beneficial to her thriving. She needs an adult-only home. Low-key dogs are a maybe if the meet and greets go well.” Behrens added: “Her perfect home would be a quiet one with not much traffic and someone who would be patient with her and help build her confidence. Given the right owner, Melia will shine.” Instagram users responded with kind words to Melia’s story, with one commenter writing: “Sweet Melia. Nervous dogs are usually the most loving pets, once they feel comfortable and safe.” “Black dogs are amazing,” another agreed, while one optimistic commenter predicted: “I’m telling ya, this dog will be somebody’s world.” And as one put it: “410 days. It hurts me so bad knowing that she’s been in there that long.” An estimated 6.3 million animals enter shelters each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Around 4.1 million are adopted each year, including 2 million dogs. 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. Read More

Stay-at-home mum Sarah Moore was scrolling through social media when she came across a post about a tiny chihuahua called Bella. Without hesitation, the 55-year-old swooped in to rescue the pup from her less-than-stellar living conditions as the pooch was living in a van and “had only ever eaten Chinese food”. When Sarah took the dog to the vet it was revealed she had lost most of her teeth due to this diet and her nails were overgrown too. Luckily, Bella easily integrated into the Moore home alongside Sarah’s two Labradors and three other chihuahuas. However, the Suffolk mum understood Bella wasn’t the only precious pet facing worsening conditions after the pandemic saw a surge in people getting pets only for the cost of living crisis to devastate their pet budgets. Plans to return to the office have also seen more and more pets turning into strays as their owners no longer have the time or money to look after them. This tore at the mum-of-three, who said: “Here in Suffolk, dogs are being found in different places every day, just left and tied to fences. These poor dogs need more people to help them. I felt I had to do something.” Sarah wanted to help the countless other pups in similar situations as Bella was (Image: Sarah Moore) While she couldn’t take in every Bella she spotted on social media, she did start supporting local animal charities. Yet she didn’t have as much disposable income to share with the cause due to the cost of living crisis as her dog food and vet bills also skyrocketed. However, she soon discovered a different way she could help without costing herself a penny as her local animal charity, Suffolk Animal Rescue, is a cause on easyfundraising. In return for using the platform to do her online shopping, the companies she buys from donates a percentage of her purchase to the charities of her choice without adding any extra expense to her bill. Sarah said: “I’ll do my supermarket shopping at Sainsbury’s via easyfundraising, and a donation will go to SAR just from my food shop. When that starts adding up it’s incredible. It doesn’t take up any time and doesn’t cost any money. You just sign up and then visit their site or open their app before you shop, that’s it.” So far, Sarah has raised £240 for SAR without spending an extra penny for it and this figure will likely rise as she plans to do her Christmas shopping through the website. More than 190,000 causes are listed on easyfundraising with over £57million in funding being generated for them through the platform. Story Saved You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Read More

The devastating story of a dog that was abandoned before Hurricane Milton in Florida has moved social media users—but now she’s found a foster home and will see what real, unconditional love truly is. Winnie, thought to be a retriever and Newfoundland mix, was found outside a home in Tampa two days after Milton made landfall on October 9. She was spotted by Dominique Amerosa, director of Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, who saw her lying outside alone, looking extremely malnourished. Amerosa told Newsweek that Winnie’s former owner evacuated and rather than finding proper care for the dog, she was “put outside right before the hurricane.” instead. It’s unclear how she managed to survive the Category 3 storm, which killed at least 24 people and left over 3 million residents without power. With a bit of encouragement and support, Amerosa managed to get Winnie into her car and took her straight to the vet. She was given medication to treat a problem with her eyes, as well as a dewormer, and had blood work and X-rays taken. A biopsy of the growth on her snout is being done. Winnie was rescued two days after Hurricane Milton hit Tampa, Florida. She is now in a temporary foster home before moving to a long-term one. @ragstorichesanimalrescu / TikTok “She was malnourished, starved and stiff from laying in the same spot,” Amerosa said. “We have no idea how she managed to survive because Milton was terrible here. “Her owner suffered from dementia, and the family was well aware that she had a dog, and yet they still chose to put the dog outside when evacuating her instead of providing care for the animal,” she said. When she was first rescued, Winnie was taken in as a temporary foster pet for a couple of weeks while Rags to Riches Animal Rescue searched for a longer-term placement. It has finally managed to secure a permanent foster home for her, and she will be moving there in the coming days. Winnie was said to be very quiet initially in the foster home, but after a few days she started learning how to “act like a dog” again. Now, her true personality is beginning to shine through, which Amerosa said is “so heartwarming to see.” It will no doubt take the poor pup a while to recover from what she’s been through, and she needs to gain a lot of weight. But Amerosa is hopeful that she will get adopted in the future, as she’d make such a wonderful pet. “She’s very docile and laid-back, but she loves playing and chewing a bone, carrying toys around and even snuggling up on a bed that someone kindly sent her. She will be up for adoption soon. She seems to really love other dogs, so I would suggest a home with another pet because she’d need to have a friend.” How Did Social Media React? Footage showing the moment Winnie was rescued was shared on Rags to Riches’ TikTok account (@ragstorichesanimalrescu). The video later shows how much happier she looks in her foster home, as she is seen lying on a bed receiving some fuss. The caption layered over the clip reads: “Winnie got dealt a bad hand, but now she’s only ever [going to] know love.” The post went viral with more than 31,100 views and 3,700 likes on TikTok in just days. Many users praised the work that Amerosa’s rescue organization does, and she hopes it will encourage others to help an animal in need. “I always recommend to people that if you see something, say something because it could save a life,” she told Newsweek. Among the commenters on the viral TikTok post, many were devastated by Winnie’s story and thanked Amerosa for saving her life. One wrote: “And she’s just waiting by the front door for them to come home. That breaks my heart. How can you do that to an animal.” Another said: “Poor puppy, she just looks so defeated. So glad she’s safe now.” “My heart is broken for this sweet baby. Thank you for saving this love,” a user added. 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. Read More

Bringing a newborn into the family might ruffle some fur among your pets. It’s a big change for them because they’re used to undivided attention. One dog recently showed how he truly felt about the adjustment. Richard the bull terrier is known to sleep in whatever small space is available—under the stairs, in a cardboard box, etc.—the owner told Newsweek via TikTok. But where she found him one day napping was a first. In the November 5 TikTok video posted on the account @richard_and_russell, the owner walks into the hallway unprepared for Richard’s new sleeping spot. The family recently welcomed a newborn, and that, of course, means endless new supplies. Richard saw an empty stroller outfitted with a padded bed and thought it “looked like a good option.” He climbed into the stroller and claimed it as his. Unbothered that he was caught, he stared back at his owner as if it were his stroller the whole time. In his mind, “he is the baby,” and no newborn will ever take that title away from him. The text on the video reads: “I think Richard is struggling to adjust to the new baby…” An owner found her dog in the new baby’s stroller. She thinks the dog might be struggling to cope with the newborn. @richard_and_russell/TikTok Richard’s reaction to being around baby items isn’t uncommon. A change in family dynamics can be hard on pets, which is why the preparation and introduction period is crucial. An article on the website Chewy recommends that owners prepare their pets before the baby comes home by pretending to carry the baby, taking your dog on a walk with a stroller, exposing it to baby sounds and setting up the nursery. When it comes time to bring home the baby, slow and supervised meetings are key. Keep it short and sweet to start. Reward the pet with good behavior. It’s also important to keep its routine and still provide it with exercise and enrichment. Viewers were cracking up over where the owner found Richard. As of Thursday, the TikTok video had amassed over 241,100 views, 22,600 likes and 419 comments. “It’s the ‘Can I help you?’ look for me,” commented one user. Some wrote about what Richard was likely thinking, such as “If I fits I sits!” and “I’m the baby of this house don’t be mistaken.” Others demanded the owner treat Richard like the baby he is: “Richard should be wrapped up warm at this time of year, babies can’t regulate temperature the way we do.” 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. Read More

A couple from Connecticut was trying to have a chill date night at home when their boxer dog realized there was cheese involved and would not leave them to it without getting her share (“share” meaning all of it.) In a viral TikTok video posted on Tuesday under the username @princess.poppyyy, Poppy the boxer can be seen sitting in the living room, right next to a charcuterie board, staring at her owners. “POV [Point of view]: Mom and dad are trying to have a date night but there’s cheese,” text laid over the clip said. A caption added: “A princess expects her cheese tax paid promptly and in full.” More From Newsweek Vault: Walmart+ Members Get New Perk Aimed at Pet Owners Despite being given multiple pieces, Poppy still wasn’t happy. She started whining and barking, hoping that her owners would cave in and give her more. If you’re a dog owner you’ve probably had to pay cheese tax too. But is this delicious treat actually safe for our pups? More From Newsweek Vault: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review British animal charity Blue Cross says that while cheese is not toxic to canines, not all dogs can have it. Dogs who are lactose intolerant, overweight, suffer from upset tummies, or have kidney problems are better off staying away from any kind of cheese or dairy. If your dog has none of the above problems, then some cheese in moderation is not likely to hurt. However, not all cheeses are safe for them. More From Newsweek Vault: The Top Rewards Credit Cards for Pet Owners According to an article on the website Dogster that was medically reviewed by veterinarian Dr. Lorna Whittemore, cheeses that dogs cannot eat, even in minimal quantities, include blue cheese—which can cause seizures—Brie, cream cheese, feta, goat cheese, provolone, and any cheeses with herbs, onion, garlic, and spices. On the other hand, cheeses that are considered safe for our pups’ consumption, though only in small quantities, include cheddar, cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan and Swiss. A stock image shows a boxer dog standing on a carpet. A couple was having a date night at home, but their dog smelled their cheese board so they had to pay “cheese tax.” Getty Images If your dog loves cheese, you can also use it as a high-value reward for training, giving a small square only when they are exceptionally good. The video of Poppy quickly went viral on TikTok, and has so far received more than 936,800 views and 139,600 likes on the platform. One user, Harry’s Headlines, commented: “Very relaxing and romantic. No distraction at all.” Melanie said: “You need to pay the cheese tax first. In fact she needs her own poppycuterie board!” Meg added: “Poppy’s feelings are so valid. I, too, will cry if not given cheese.” Newsweek reached out to @princess.poppyyy for comment. 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@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup. Read More

In a heart-wrenching post on Reddit‘s r/NoStupidQuestions, a user has shared how a tragic accident has left them struggling to move forward. While trying to help a friend who had just had a newborn, the Redditor took in the friend’s dog so it could enjoy a spacious garden. However, despite their vigilance, the French bulldog named Archie slipped into the user’s swimming pool and drowned. “So long story short, my best friend just had her second baby… I offered to help watch their dog because they live in an apartment and I have a big garden,” the user wrote in the post. While preparing to go out, they momentarily lost sight of the dog and discovered too late that Archie had fallen into the pool. “He was still warm and soft. I tried to do CPR for over 20 minutes… I was hysterical,” the Redditor said. “They don’t blame me, but obviously I should have been more careful and it was my responsibility.” As well as damage to the friends’ relationship, the poster said they were also worried about their seven-year-old son who witness the incident. “How can we get over this?” they asked, searching for guidance on managing the trauma, restoring the friendship, and forgiving themselves. A file photo of a pool behind a locked gate. After a dog’s tragic death on her watch, a woman asked the internet how she will forgive herself. avtk/Getty Images The post has thousands of upvotes and hundreds of responses on Reddit where people were quick to share their reactions. “Apologize as much as you can. Invest in a pool fence…this will show your friends you’ve taken this seriously,” suggested user MarzyMalyss. While Redditor Ninj-nerd1998 echoed the idea and said: “One thing you should definitely do is install a fence around your pool if you haven’t got one already. They exist to prevent things like that.” Psychologist and relationship expert Veronica West shared her thoughts on the tragic scenario. “This is one of those unexpected pop quiz scenarios that life throws at you when the questions are in a foreign language,” she told Newsweek. “You intervened out of love and good intentions, but destiny turned your life upside down.” West noted that feelings of guilt are a common response to accidental loss, emphasizing that guilt often serves as “your brain’s way of ensuring you care.” She suggested that the Redditor write down positive memories they shared with Archie as a way to counterbalance self-blame and, if the guilt remains overwhelming, to consider speaking with a therapist who can help “evict that pesky voice in your head that says, ‘This is all on me.’” When it comes to helping the child who witnessed the tragic incident, West said that communication is key. She recommended creating a small memorial activity, such as planting flowers or sharing favorite memories of Archie. “Kids can be surprisingly wise when given the chance,” she said. “Acknowledge their feelings, and maybe even share that it’s okay to be sad and a little confused—grown-ups feel that way, too.” The heartbreaking story struck a chord with people on Reddit, but West advised the Reddit user ensured they cut themselves some slack. “Give yourself the same compassion you’d give anyone else—and remember, chocolate helps,” she said. Newsweek could not verify the details of this case. Read More

A dog has been left fighting for his life after suffering two bites while protecting his owner and canine siblings from a rattlesnake. Maverick, an English bulldog, was attacked on two occasions by the western diamondback rattlesnake while playing in his garden in southern Arizona. His sibling, Finley, was bitten once on the cheek by the reptile, but has since been recovering well despite the fatal risk of such an encounter. Maverick is showing slower signs of improvement, and the shocking ordeal has left his owner feeling “heartbroken.” “They were bitten and we were able to get them to put emergency vet within 30 minutes,” their owner, who asked to keep their identity private, told Newsweek. “The snake had come through our fence opening and our dogs did not really freak out until I freaked out.” Finley, a grey-shaded Merle Frenchie, was hit once and responded to treatment quickly, with his owner saying that he showed significant improvement by the end of day one. Maverick, who sustained two bites to his face, has had a more challenging recovery and did not respond as quickly to the treatment provided. “They spent one and a half days in the hospital and then were able to come home to continue to get well,” their owner said. “They are on the mend, and now we are just working on keeping the bite sites from getting infected as the venom left funnel-shaped holes in their faces.” The incident, which has since gone viral on TikTok, showcases the aftermath of the ordeal and the dogs’ ongoing recovery. The video, which was shared to the platform under the username @maverick_peach_finley, captures Maverick and Finley wearing plastic braces around their necks and bandages over their bites. These braces are attributed to their recovery process, administered by the veterinary team. The overlaid text on the video provides a chilling account of the early morning incident. “Both Maverick and Finley were bitten by a rattlesnake that made it onto our backyard. We rushed them to the emergency vet and immediately started them on antivenom and blood transfusions,” their owner wrote. Maverick and Finley receive antivenom treatment at a veterinary center in Arizona after being bitten by a rattlesnake. Their owner says that they are “on the mend,” but that one canine is healing faster than… @maverick_peach_finley The dogs were quick to respond to the threat, despite having received rattlesnake avoidance training, a product of living in a state that is home to a variety of venomous snakes. Their owner said that Maverick was acting in defense of his owner and dog siblings, Finley and Peach, with the latter escaping the situation unscathed. “Maverick has rattlesnake avoidance training and will always stay away from them, but was in this case acting in protection and trying to keep us safe,” the owner said. Dr. Terry Fossum, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, spoke with Newsweek about the dangers of rattlesnake bites in dogs. “These bites can be fatal,” she said. “Time is crucial and it is important to get your dog to a veterinarian for antivenom treatment as quickly as possible. “Your dog has a high survival rate if the antivenom is administered in a timely manner. Don’t attempt at-home care. If your dog has been bitten or you suspect a rattlesnake bite, go to the closest veterinary clinic.” Several factors can influence the survival rate of a dog bitten by a rattlesnake, as Fossum explained. These include the time to treatment, size of the dog, location of the bite, and the amount of venom injected. With prompt treatment, survival rates are generally high, ranging between 80 to 90 percent. The rapid response of the owner, who managed to get Maverick and Finley to the emergency vet within 30 minutes, played a crucial role in their ongoing recovery. “We’re heartbroken and hope tomorrow will bring us some better news,” their owner told viewers online. “We love [Maverick] for his loyalty and protectiveness.” 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. Read More

At a special kindergarten in North Carolina, youngsters play, socialize, snooze, and learn how to sit, stay, and avoid pooping in the classroom. These kindergarteners are dogs, not humans, enrolled in Duke University’s Puppy Kindergarten, but the specialized games and tasks these pups tackle in the classroom aren’t so different to those used to study the development of human children. For both dogs and their human companions, learning new skills are key steps in their journey to adulthood. Duke researchers Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods modeled their curriculum on techniques that psychologists use to test children’s minds. Countless hours spent with the adorable but exhausting pups enabled them to pinpoint when key cognitive skills emerge at different times during canine development. These skills, like being able to retain memories and exhibit self-control, enable dogs’ amazing abilities to connect and cooperate with humans.  As dog lovers know, each pup is an individual. “Dogs have different types of intelligence, different cognitive profiles, and they are going to develop at different paces,” says Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist.   The research described in the engaging new book Puppy Kindergarten: The New Science Of Raising a Great Dog, grew out of Hare and Woods’s decade-long partnership with Canine Companions, the largest service dog provider in the United States. Nowadays, the dogs most people want as pets also look a lot like service dogs. “For 100 years, these service dogs have always had to fit into our families, be polite to people, sit in a cafe, walk nicely on a leash,” says Woods, director of the Duke Puppy Kindergarten. Drawing a road map of typical cognitive development in puppies can help predict which ones could excel as service animals and also help new dog parents raise great dogs. When can puppies learn key skills? In puppy kindergarten, the Duke team followed the development of 101 puppies, tested every two weeks between eight and 20 weeks old. All were Labrador retrievers or Labrador-Golden retriever mixes. Half lived at Duke, while the other half were raised in volunteer family homes. They supplemented that with studies of 221 puppies tested a single time, and 37 wolf puppies for comparison. (Research continues with a new class of pups currently enrolled at Duke.) LIMITED TIME OFFER The perfect gift for the history buff in your life. Give now and get a FREE TOTE BAG. Data also poured in from almost 50,000 pet dogs of varied breeds who were tested at home by their owners through the Dognition project. Though big and small dogs do tend to develop a bit differently, breeds didn’t appear to matter for the cognitive abilities the group measured. Puppy cognitive skills, it turns out, emerge and develop on this general timeline:  Good dogs must remember skills, past situations, and different people and places. Around eight weeks, puppies remembered where a treat was hidden, even after time passed or when they had been distracted during the hiding by a squeaky toy. Owners should take note; before memory develops, young dogs aren’t being bad or disobedient—they literally can’t remember what you want them to do. Dogs need self-control to keep them on track when they want to play or chase squirrels instead of listening to humans. Puppies were first acclimated to getting a treat by going around to the open end of a cylinder. Researchers then swapped in a transparent cylinder. With a treat immediately in view but inaccessible, puppies had to remember the detour to the open end of the cylinder.  Understanding this timing could help owners face training dilemmas, like whether to respond to overnight barking. “We have data now that explains there is probably a transition,” Hare says. “Before 13 weeks, if they are barking, go get your dog. They aren’t trying to manipulate you, they aren’t going to learn a bad habit, they probably just need to go to the bathroom.” Once the pups have developed more self-control, by 13 or 14 weeks, owners can start to think about handling those midnight interruptions differently. Around eight weeks puppies begin to read the way we communicate through hand gestures, facial expressions, and vocal signals and our cooperative intentions better than our great ape cousins. “And this at an age where they can barely walk across the room without falling asleep,” Woods adds. When humans pointed to a hidden treat, the puppies usually found it. The same was true when they used gestures the dog had never seen, like putting a marker near the hiding place. By 10 weeks, they’ve mastered the understanding of basic human gestures, their first cognitive skill. Good dogs may be primed to learn these social, cooperative communication skills by their evolutionary history rather than life experiences. “When puppies are so young, having these abilities, it’s suggesting that this may be something that’s been built in by domestication,” says Angie Johnston director of Canine Cognition Center and Social Learning Laboratory at Boston College. While puppies aren’t on the same cognitive level as human babies, the two species begin to develop some of the same skills at a very young age. Human cognitive development features a revolutionary period between nine and 12 months, when babies do things like follow gazes or gestures, and develop a window into the minds of others outside of themselves. “What makes dogs so humanlike is not just that they read gestures, it’s that is very early emerging in dogs the way that it’s early emerging in kids,” Hare explains. (How did “puppy dog eyes” evolve?) When faced with unsolvable problems, dogs use social problem solving—looking at people for help. Eye contact between dogs and humans is an extremely important part of our relationship; gazing even hijacks the human oxytocin loop that promotes bonding with our own infants. Puppy kindergarteners given an unattainable treat in a snapback container, even for just five minutes every two weeks, doubled the amount of overall eye contact they made with humans. (Don’t worry: After 90 seconds, dogs get the treat no matter what.)

A shelter dog who was returned for biting underwent a remarkable transformation, thanks to the care and attention of a volunteer. Amie Addington shared footage to TikTok under the handle @themagic.dragon, showcasing the difference she has seen in the way a dog by the name of Emmanuel has behaved since she started visiting him. Emmanuel resides at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California. “He was adopted from the shelter as a puppy and then returned for biting,” Addington told Newsweek. “I’m not sure exactly about his life before but the staff has said that it doesn’t seem like he was socialized at all which is why he was terrified of everyone.” More From Newsweek Vault: The 10 Cheapest Pet Insurance Plans Dog bites are a serious matter, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that close to one in five people bitten by a dog proceed to require medical attention. It’s important to stress that the majority of dog bites occur when the canine involved is scared, nervous, eating or playing with either toys or puppies. Emmanuel certainly fell into this category. Addington said that Emmanuel really struggled with people when he first arrived at the shelter. “He would show teeth and growl because he was scared of anyone coming near him,” she said. It took time and patience for the shelter pup to get used to having Addington in his personal space inside the kennel. In the video she posted to social media, Emmanuel can be seen bearing his teeth at Addington. That eventually changes though. More From Newsweek Vault: Compare Top Pet Insurance Plans For Dogs “The first four days I sat with him for about four hours each day and since the third day he hasn’t growled or anything,” she said. By the end of the video, Emmanuel can be seen cuddled up to Addington. It’s clear she has won his trust. Commenting on the video, one dog lover commented, “he feels safe with you,” while another was “crying” at witnessing the change. More From Newsweek Vault: The Top Rewards Credit Cards for Pet Owners Addington is keen to stress that she doesn’t have a set blueprint to success when it comes to helping dogs of this kind. “I really just had to be patient with him and read his body language when he needed space. I’m not an expert and he’s the first dog I’ve done this with so I was learning too,” she said. “I did research and read about reactive and anxious dog behaviors so that I could help him and other dogs better.” A lot of it came down to simply sitting with him and keeping him company. “I gave treats when he’d come to me and tried not to make too much eye contact,” Addington said. “Showing him I wasn’t going to hurt him.” Amie’s first meeting with Emmanuel, pictured on the left. Things have since changed for the better, shown on the right. themagic.dragon Those efforts have made a world of difference, with Addington overjoyed at the way Emmanuel has “come out of his shell.” “He plays with toys now and he loves the floppy ones that he can throw around,” she said. “Emmanuel is very vocal and sounds like a flute when he does his happy cries.” Addington feels that Emmanuel living in a shelter has hindered his progress on some level, simply because of his aversion to being there. “He still struggles with the shelter and when I take him outside on a leash he will pace back and forth trying to find his way out of the gate,” she said. “It’s really heartbreaking. I feel like so many of them would be completely changed animals if they were just able to get out of there and get some peace and quiet.” Research supports her assertion. A 2006 study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior found dogs entering a shelter on average had around three times the level of the stress hormone cortisol in their system over their first three days there than normally domesticated canines. Emmanuel is still nervous around dogs and probably isn’t the kind of dog that would be good with a family that has kids, but Addington’s video shows he’s capable of living a happy life with the right special someone. He just needs to find them now. Read More

USA Gymnastics’ beloved therapy dog has fallen ill with a mystery condition. Now, he needs help to cover his extortionate veterinary bills so he can attend the 2028 Olympics. Beacon, a golden retriever (@goldendogbeacon) known as “the goodest boy,” is not just any dog; he’s an indispensable member of the national gymnastics squad, providing emotional support and helping athletes manage their nerves and anxieties during high-stress competitions. Three weeks ago, Beacon’s owner, 65-year-old Tracey Callahan Molnar, noticed something alarming upon returning from a hiking trip in California’s Angeles National Forest. “He was moving stiffly,” she told Newsweek. She immediately took him to the vet, where he received an anti-inflammatory injection. His blood work came back normal, and for a short time, Beacon seemed to improve. However, during a rhythmic gymnastics camp in New York, his condition plateaued. Worried, Molnar took him back to the vet. “They did some X-rays, which showed fluid in his chest cavity—he was also running a fever. Things escalated from there,” she said. Beacon was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where he was placed in a room with an oxygen chamber. USA Gymnastics’ “goodest boy.” Beacon works hard as a therapy dog for the USA Gymnastics squad, in a hospital and California Institute of Technology. @goldendogbeacon/@goldendogbeacon On September 3, Beacon was diagnosed with pleural effusion, a condition where fluid builds up in the chest cavity, making it difficult to breathe. Vets drained 700ml of liquid from his chest. “I felt upside down. Beacon is 4 years old. While we were camping and hiking, it was business as usual; nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Even now, it’s just so baffling,” she said. Jacqueline Fealy, a family friend who set up the fundraiser, reported that Beacon’s surgery on September 5 went well. “They were able to biopsy tissue from his chest cavity and installed two drainage ports, one on each side. The doctors have been monitoring the drainage, and with the help of steroids, the fluid accumulation has reduced slightly. Beacon had a peaceful night,” she said on the fundraising page. Beacon was discharged from True Care For Pets, Studio City, on September 7, and Molnar was trained to empty his chest drainage ports. Though he was briefly readmitted a few days later due to elevated breathing rates, doctors attributed the spike to medication, and he returned home in better spirits. Despite extensive testing, Beacon’s condition remains a mystery. They have ruled out cancer from the biopsy results after fears his deterioration could have been linked to mesothelioma, a rare kind of cancer triggered by asbestos. “Needless to say, finding out it’s not only NOT mesothelioma, but NOT cancer of any kind is reassuring on one hand but still scary because they still don’t have a definitive diagnosis,” Molnar shared on Beacon’s Instagram page in a video update that garnered 42,600 views. While hospitalized, his exhausted yet determined spirit shone through. “They had little stuffed animals in the room—Beacon is obsessed with stuffed animals—and even though he was weak, he lifted his nose to try and reach one,” Molnar told Newsweek. Although Beacon’s organs appear healthy based on ultrasounds, and he has undergone a CT scan and tissue biopsy of his lungs, there is still no definitive answer for his condition. Doctors have already ruled out common fungi and bacteria and are now investigating his travel history over the past year to conduct more thorough tests. “I felt like I saw, for the first time in three weeks, a little bit of our Beacon again—he had a bit more energy, there was a bit more tail wagging,” Molnar said. USA Gymnastics shared their support for their much-loved therapy dog. “We’re wishing Good Boy Beacon a speedy recovery!” they wrote on Facebook. Beacon’s Gymnastics Career Beacon officially became a therapy dog in May 2022. He quickly made a name for himself by helping U.S. gymnasts stay calm and focused in the lead-up to major competitions. He also provides animal-assisted therapy in hospitals in Pasadena and at Cal Tech University. Molnar, who has been involved in the sport as a gymnast and later as a rhythmic gymnastics coach, was recruited alongside her canine companion to offer animal therapy to USA Gymnastics. He skyrocketed in popularity during the USA Olympic Trials in Minneapolis in June 2024. “It’s been an overwhelming success from the very first endeavor. His popularity went through the roof,” Molnar said. Beacon the golden retriever as a puppy and outdoors. The 4-year-old loves hiking, camping, walking and swimming. @goldendogbeacon/@goldendogbeacon According to Molnar, science has shown that interacting with animals—whether through petting, talking, or simply observing—can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, and increase feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Beacon has worked his magic by simply being present with the gymnasts, offering quiet comfort and affection. “The best visits are when I’m not talking at all,” Molnar told Newsweek. “I see myself as the conduit, letting that interaction happen naturally. People spending time with Beacon are talking and asking questions, Beacon will lay still, show his belly for rubs or will sit next to them. If they stop petting, he will scoot a little closer just to remind them he’s there.” USA Gymnastics has even created a wellness room where Beacon and other therapy dogs spend time with gymnasts before and after training and competitions. “It’s something beautiful to witness—a front-row seat to watching the stress melt away from their bodies. Their shoulders drop, their tense faces relax, and smiles appear. It’s such a gift,” Molnar said. Fealy owed USA Gymnastics’ meteoric success at the 2024 Olympics to Beacon’s support. “I may be biased, however, I believe Beacon was a positive factor that helped the gymnasts win so many medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics,” she wrote on the fundraiser page. Run-ins with Gymnastics Stars During his career, Beacon has met some of gymnastics’ biggest stars, including Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Joscelyn Roberson and Evita Griskenas. Molnar fondly recalls Beacon’s interactions with Biles