PETS

A 21-year-old chihuahua in Florida has made some history, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

For those animal lovers who spend so much money on their pets and hope to recoup some of that cash spent when tax season arrives, this is the cold, hard reality: For the most part, you can’t.

It’s natural to want to post about the passing of your sweet pet to your family and friends on Facebook or Instagram, but have you ever noticed that lately, we all say some form of, “they’ve crossed (or gone over) the rainbow bridge?”

There are now plenty of airports that are pet-friendly, but taking your favorite furry pal along on a trip can still be stressful.

The retailer says it had a "record Christmas" which saw it groom 5,500 dogs on Christmas Eve alone.

Rubble is a 7-month-old puppy with lots of energy.

With New Year’s Eve coming up, there will be plenty of celebrations and fireworks. And while it might be a party for you, it’s not so much for your pets.

Which pet names were the most popular or trended the highest in 2021?

We all love spoiling our pets, and amid the spoiling we do to ourselves on Thanksgiving with all the delicious food, some of us consider doing the same for our pets.

Are you a dog lover who has struggled to return to the office, now that you’ve spent the past year or so around the house more often for your furry friend?

Clear the Shelters is a nationwide pet adoption campaign to help animals find their forever home.

Starting next week, NBC’s seventh annual Clear the Shelters event begins.

The Roanoke Valley SPCA reached a major milestone on Thursday.

A pet boarding business is struggling to keep its doors open after an out-of-state woman abandoned several dozen dogs.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things going forward, one of which is the way pet owners and veterinarians interact during visits.

On Saturday, Angels of Assisi will be hosting a mobile vaccination clinic for cats and dogs.

After losing her dog two years earlier, a Pennsylvania woman was yearning to find a new puppy for her and her two sons to play with.

To combat animals’ fear and anxiety, experts have a few recommendations.

With Independence Day on the horizon, there will be plenty of celebrations and fireworks. While it might be a party for you, it’s not so much for your pets.

If you’re a dog lover, what’s your favorite breed?

For 11 years, a tortoise born with metabolic bone disease struggled to walk.

A local animal shelter needs your help as it’s now at capacity.

This little Pekingese named Wasabi won the hearts of the Westminster Dog Show Sunday night, as well as the hearts of America.

Being home for those first couple months of the pandemic really made for a lot of free time for some, and wasn’t it the perfect time to adopt a new puppy or kitty?

As people begin to return to the office, it may be a difficult transition for pets and their owners. NPR's Rachel Martin got some tips from veterinarian Douglas Kratt.

One cute four-legged thief has stolen thousands of hearts across the internet. The Duplin County Animal Services in North Carolina said the dog repeatedly broke into Dollar General to take a purple plush unicorn on March 21. When animal control was called, they decided to buy it for one-year-old Sisu. This is what happens when you break into the dollar general consistently to steal the purple unicorn that you layed... Posted by Duplin County Animal Services on Monday, March 22, 2021Since then, both the stuffed animal and Sisu will have a place they can call home. Mary Shannon Johnstone adopted and rescued Sisu on Thursday.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The Martinsville-Henry County SPCA is holding a massive adoption event this week, with a few adjustments due to COVID-19. The SPCA is teaming up with North Shore Animal League America and Purina for the annual Tour for Life adoption event. Purina’s even giving the shelter a $1,000 grant to help pay for vet care, food and other expenses so the shelter can reduce adoption fees. “You’re not just saving one life, you’re saving two lives,” said Catherin Gupton, the shelter’s director of Operations. “You’re saving the life that you’re taking home, but you’re also saving the life of the animal that’s coming into the shelter.”AdThe adoption event runs from Tuesday, March 9 through Sunday, March 13 from 12-6 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – Angels of Assisi recently received a rush of donations to fill up its empty pantry. Most of that donated pet food is now back in the community. The organization gave out more than 100 bags of pet food during a drive-thru event Sunday afternoon. More than 50 families in need received free food for their cats and dogs, including 30 families in the first few minutes of the event. “That is the reason we’re here, to help the community, and we can’t do it without community support.

ECORSE, Mich. – A dog who had been stranded on the frozen Detroit River for four days was rescued Saturday. Fonzi survived four bitterly cold days on the ice in Ecorse, near John D. Dingell Park. “It’s an amazing story of survival,” said Patricia Trevino, with the River Rouge Animal Shelter. Trevino said Fonzi was stuck on the river in the cold for four days. “Apparently a coyote came off Mud Island and chased him out further into the Detroit River,” Trevino said.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – There’s a new step to giving animals a better chance at being adopted. A group in Campbell County that’s been advocating to build a new shelter for years created Bringing Animal Renovation to Campbell County (BARCC), a nonprofit to help with fundraising. The group believes the existing building isn’t as inviting or big enough compared to other shelters in the area, and leaders presented their plan to the Campbell County Board of Supervisors last week. County leaders said a new shelter is in the capital improvement plan for about $800,000, but that’s still three years down the road. “One new animal being brought into the shelter should not jeopardize the life of another animal that’s already here just because of lack of space.

ROANOKE, Va. – 2021 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Angels of Assisi. The animal shelter and clinic estimate their new facility on Elm Avenue and Franklin Road SW will be done by the start of 2022. Additionally, executive director Lisa O’Neill said 2020 was the shelter’s busiest year on record. O’Neill said the pandemic likely caused customers to spend more time on their pets. “The power of pets is probably greater than we thought it was,” O’Neill said “We had people who, when they got their $600 check from the government, they spent it on their animals so they could get well.”Angels of Assisi is still doing curbside-only service due to the pandemic.

ROANOKE, Va. – You can help keep your pet healthy in 2021 with these New Year’s resolutions. Veterinarians say that animals need regular exercise, just like humans. It’s important to consider the age, breed and current health of your pet, but most dogs need at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Regular grooming is important, along with choosing the right food. Experts say that you should pay attention to the first three ingredients listed, especially protein.

ROANOKE, Va. – If a pandemic holiday season is making you feel a little blue, a furry friend might bring some warmth and love to your home this winter. Eight dogs and 18 cats are available for short-term fostering at the Roanoke Valley SPCA. This gives some time for the shelter workers to take a break and for animals to decompress. “The shelter is not always the best place or the most fun place for the pets that are here,” said Roanoke Valley SPCA Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement Suzanne Creswell. If we have fearful pets they can get more fearful.”If you would like to show a pet some love you can fill out the application to be a foster parent.

Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend. They bring so much joy to our lives. So when Clinton and Audrey Petersen’s dog Rascall became terminally ill, the couple wanted to do everything they could to make the dog’s last days special.

It seems as though, from time to time, we hear remarkable stories about animals rescuing or saving their family. “She’s not really a barker unless she’s talking to us or really excited to see us,” Radel-Pabby said. “(Willow) never goes into the office unless we’re in there. Her boyfriend kept trying to get Willow out of the office, but Radel-Pabby said she kept giving him a warning snap. Eventually, Willow was finally able to turn Radel-Pabby’s boyfriend’s attention to an outlet, behind which a fire had sparked.

ROANOKE, Va. – A baker’s dozen of dogs rescued from a South Korean meat farm is now safe and sound in Roanoke. Angels of Assisi is sheltering 13 dogs from the international rescue. In total, 170 dogs were saved from the meat farm. Executive director Lisa O’Neill said volunteers will spend time helping the dogs get used to human interaction. “Now, some of the real work begins," O’Neill said.

We found the following 11 photos from Getty Images, and we thought they were worth a share. (Getty Images)Pierre, a 5-year-old basset hound, apparently is a loyal fan of then-President Johnson -- and was happy to pose with a campaign button. (Getty Images)A dog wears a campaign sticker for Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign stop at the Buttercup diner on March 3, 2020 in Oakland, California. This photo was taken in front of the White House as the pups wore campaign buttons for Lyndon B. Johnson for President. (Getty Images)In Honolulu, Hawaiian women are seen casting their votes during a presidential election -- and even a dog doesn't dare peek.

Walker the labrador retriever received a root canal in preparation for his work as a Saint Francis Service Dog. The procedure is rare, but Saint Francis Service Dogs executive director Caball Youell said it was essential to Walker’s future career. Instead, Dr. Grant Throckmorton of Wythe Family Dentistry drove an hour from Wytheville to operate on Walker in Roanoke. “The tooth is about twice as long as you’ll ever see a human tooth," Throckmorton said. Some of my instruments don’t even work on dog teeth.”The procedure went well, and Throckmorton finished the job in about an hour.

DANVILLE, Va. – A missing dog is reunited with her owner after wandering hundreds of miles away from home. Cookie the shih tzu made her way from New Jersey to the Danville Area Humane Society. Volunteers discovered Cookie’s identity thanks to her microchip and soon reunited the dog with her owner. Humane Society Executive Director Paulette Dean said the dog had been missing for over a year, according to her owner. "My final words to the dog were, ‘I wish you could talk to us to tell us where you’ve been.’”

ROANOKE, Va. – Cue “Pomp and Circumstance” because these smart pups are graduating from Saint Francis Service Dogs. The organization is holding a virtual ceremony for its new graduates on Sunday at 7 p.m. to celebrate the end of their service dog training. Saint Francis Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization in Roanoke that matches professionally-trained service dogs with children and adults with disabilities who need assistance to lead a more independent life. It takes a rigorous two-year training period for each puppy to become a service dog, according to organization officials. If you’d like to attend the virtual graduation, you can find more information here.

ROANOKE, Va. – With fall just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to adopt a new cuddle buddy. On Saturday, Kroger is teaming up with local shelters for pet adoption events in Roanoke and Vinton. Rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the “For Your Pets” event will allow you to find a new furry friend and get some weekend groceries done at any of the three participating stores. Here are the Kroger stores participating and the shelters that will be there:915 Hardy Road, Vinton, VA 24179 – Bedford Humane Society4488 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018 – Salem Animal Shelter3970 Valley Gateway Boulevard, Roanoke, VA 24012 – Roanoke Valley SPCAThe three local shelters will have informational tables in front of the stores and most will have adoptable pets on-site. Each event will have shelter representatives hand out Kroger coupon booklets which include discounts on dog and cat food items available in-store.

On Wednesday, Busch announced Dog Brew, a new bone-broth drink for your four-legged friend, in celebration of National Dog Day. pic.twitter.com/tWA20ys8at — Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) August 26, 2020The drink is made from a pork-bone base with other all-natural ingredients like water, vegetables, herbs and spices. The beer company emphasized on its website that there is no alcohol in this drink and that owners should not give their dogs other Busch products. Dog Brew comes in 12-oz. As of Thursday, Dog Brew is sold out online, but those interested can join a waiting list to be notified when it’s back in stock.

A carrying crateWhen dangerous weather hits, it’s a good idea to have a pet carrying crate for your animal so you know they will be safe inside. Freeman suggests doing some pre-crate training so when an emergency strikes, it’s not your animal’s first time going in. That means having an ID on the collar, or one step further: making sure your pet is microchipped. A pet emergency kitHaving an emergency kit on hand in case something disastrous happens will save you so much stress in the long run. That’s another reason why having a pet carrier can keep your dog or cat out of harm’s way.

ROANOKE, Va. – Clear The Shelters has returned for 2020, and there is more time than ever to find the perfect pet this year. The Roanoke Valley Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Angels of Assisi are both participating in the event. “Every adoption makes room for us to help another pet in need,” said Roanoke Valley SPCA Executive Director Denise Hayes. “I have really high hopes for them and we’re ready to send these guys home,” said Angels of Assisi adoption director April Saunders. “Every adoption, while we’re happy for that pet, we’re also happy for the pet that comes behind them because we can save another life.”For more information on Clear The Shelters, including a complete list of participating shelters in the area, click here.

NEW YORK – A German shepherd that was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a dog in the United States has died in New York. The Staten Island family that owned Buddy tells National Geographic that the 7-year-old shepherd developed breathing problems in mid-April after a family member had been sick with COVID-19. A veterinarian tested Buddy in May and found him positive for the virus. The dog was euthanized on July 11 after his health had severely declined. It’s unknown if the coronavirus played a role in his illness.

Denniss adoption fee is $79 plus a $10 microchip fee. If you want to open up your home to Wasabi, her adoption fee is $99 plus a $10 microchip fee. Chipotles adoption fee is $99 plus a $10 microchip fee. If youre looking for a new snuggle buddy, Reeses adoption fee is $109 plus a $10 microchip fee. If youre looking for a new snuggle buddy, Reeses adoption fee is $109 plus a $10 microchip fee.

ROANOKE, Va. A special cat that is no stranger to a Roanoke animal shelter may finally have found its furever home. The average weight of an adult cat is 8 to 10 pounds. On Tuesday, a family agreed to foster her from the Roanoke Center for Animal Care and Adoption to see if shell be a good fit for the family. She was surrendered by her owner earlier this year and was surrendered by her previous owner last year. She is a phenomenal cat, but is a very independent spirit.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. Franklin Countys adoptable dogs and cats officially moved in to more comfortable surroundings this weekend. The new Franklin County Animal Shelter opened Saturday after more than a year of construction. The new shelter is three times as large as its replacement. Shelter manager Cindy Brooks said the old shelter lacked handicap access, did not have air conditioning, and was in an inconvenient location for many in the county. I feel were going to have a lot more people come visit us in this location compared to the other one, Brooks said.

ROANOKE, Va. – Watermelon, hamburgers, buns and a puppy. On Saturday, July 18, at some Kroger stores, you’ll be able to cross all four of those items off your list in one stop. At each event, shelter representatives will hand out coupon booklets and samples from program partners. Coupon items include various dog and cat food items available in-store. Additionally, the Kroger store on North Franklin Street in Christiansburg will host pet adoption event on Saturday, July 25, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

They need a lot of rehabilitation, explained Angels of Assisi Executive Director Lisa ONeil. The South Korean meat farm the dogs were taken from is the latest one to be shut down by the Humane Society of the U.S. and Humane Society International. Angels of Assisi in Roanoke received 10 of the roughly 100 dogs saved. As a humane society rescue partner, this is the third time Angels of Assisi has received dogs from a South Korean meat farm and it may not be the last. When they go in to shut them down, they make sure theyre shut completely down.

Nobody anticipates their home will catch on fire; that’s why it’s important to have a plan, and that plan should include your pets.

CNN Fireworks explode like magnified gunfire in the exquisitely sensitive ears of many of our pets. Measuring between 150 and 175 decibels, fireworks are louder than gunfire (140 decibels) and even many planes at takeoff (120 decibels). Due to Covid-19, animal advocates say this year has been extremely bad for pets with noise phobias. But those noises are relatively constant, experts say, while fireworks are frighteningly sporadic and therefore unexpected. Cats and many other domestic (and wild) animals have sensitive hearing, provided by nature to find and hunt prey.

Can your pets be art? A millennia-spanning exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas in Austin is devoted to our fascinating four-legged companions. Anna Werner reports.