5 Funny Things We Have Said To Our Dogs -

As you dog lovers out there already know, dogs are pretty much a bunch of furry little geniuses. Did you know that dogs can often pick up more than 200 spoken words all on their own, without being taught? It’s true! But every now and then, there are moments when we all wish doggies spoke our language, for realz. Here are 5 things we keep trying to tell our dogs:

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/things-dogs-think-facts/#ixzz3g1g5D2fw

1. Crazy—I was just thinking about how these shoes would look better chewed!

2. I know you think that every time I close the door to the bathroom, a portal to another dimension opens up and I am at risk of disappearing forever. That’d be cool, but I promise it’s not gonna happen.

3. I love you, but you are NOT gettin’ any chocolate! (If it weren’t a risk to your health, I’d have caved by now, OK?!)

4. That’s just the mail carrier. He’s not going to hurt you. Remember him from yesterday and the day before and the hundreds of days before that? Same ol’ dude, different day.

5. This bath is full of soapy water—NOT flesh-dissolving acid, k? CHILL PILL.

Read more here!!: http://www.peta2.com/blog/things-dogs-think-facts/#ixzz3g1fuYq2i 

Sadly, not all dogs are lucky enough to have an awesome human companion who will always try to listen to what they have to say. Every day, dogs are abused, neglected, left trapped in hot cars, and chained up and forgotten outside 24/7 without adequate shelter. You can be a hero for these dogs by pledging to be a dog defender and by clicking the button below:

How To Tell Another Human Their Dog May Be Dangerously Obese

Claire Beaudreault

11 hours ago

It’s totally pawssible to be a healthy and happy fat human. I try to practice body positivity, with regard to myself and others. There are different reasons for humans to be overweight, and it’s important to accept and love your body at any size. If you want to change it, I support that, too. You do you!

But then you see an overweight or obese dog…

While fat may sometimes be a choice for a human, it’s not one for a dog. Wild dogs are lean survival machines, and Nature didn’t intend for our dogs to be fat. (Or too skinny, for that matter.) Although a roly-poly pup might seem adorable, the reality is much more dangerous.

There are several reasons for a dog’s obesity: eating people food, too many carbohydrates, insufficient exercise, to name a few. Some humans use food as a reward or to show affection for their pets. Allowing a dog to become obese might be considered animal abuse. It could also result from a lack of information, education, or access to healthy dog food.

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Like humans, dogs may have medical conditions that make them overweight. If you suspect this is the case, please see a vet for more information. Obesity may shorten lifespan, damage the organs, and affect bones and joints.

So, how do you tell a friend, family member, or stranger that their dog’s health may be in danger? Is it even our place to do so? Maybe it’s not appropriate to say these things to a stranger, or acquaintance. If you decide to go ahead, it helps if you start these “I” statements with “I love your dog.” Never accuse anyone of bad pawrenting! They might not know that what they are doing isn’t best for their pup. Here are a few approaches, ranging from direct to silly to roundabout to anonymous…

1. Be direct but kind.

“I’m not a vet but it looks like your dog might be overweight. Have you considered having him checked out?” (Unless you ARE a vet, in which case say whatever your professional opinion dictates.)

Source: Critical Care DVM

2. Take a subtle approach.

Offer to walk their dog, or accompany them on a dog walk.

Source: DOGSARETHECOOLEST

3. Try humor.

(While lifting or petting the pup) “Little hefty there, what does the vet say?” or, “Your dog reminds me of someone famous…Oh I know, Jabba the Hut!”

Source: The Meta Picture

4. Anonymously…

…mail them printouts of articles about pet obesity and its risks. Or success stories!

Source: The Concourse

5. Pawsonal anecdote.

“My dog was overweight, and the vet said she was facing a lot of health risks.”

Source: Biggest Loser Doxie Edition

6. Talk about food!

“What do you feed him?”

Source: Barks and Blooms

7. All love.

“I love your dog, and it’s obvious that you love her too. I’m sure you want to keep her healthy and happy for as long as possible. I’m concerned that she might be at risk for health issues due to her size….”

Source: Daily Express

Know that your friend might be offended by your insinuation that they’re doing pup parenting wrong. Gauge each situation and consider your relationship with the person. It might be difficult, but it will be more difficult for your friend to potentially lose their dog as a result of weight-related health problems.

Source: Gudog

The Thing About Service Dogs -

This is Hailey Ashmore and her service dog, Flynn.

Hailey Ashmore / Instagram

Hailey has had Flynn since he was an itty-bitty puppy.

Needless to say, it was love at first sight.

Hailey Ashmore / Instagram

Hailey also struggles with several conditions. “I have epilepsy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, reactive hypoglycemia, severe allergies, gastroparesis, asthma, and more,” Hailey told Fetching Apparel.

Flynn isn't just a friend — he is Hailey's service dog. Flynn can sense when Hailey is going to have a seizure before it happens. This gives Hailey time to respond, get help, and find a safe place.

One day, Hailey was visiting her dad at work. When she arrived with Flynn, a staff member could not resist how adorable he is. They began to pet him, ignoring the giant "STOP" sign he wears. "I immediately told him to stop [petting Flyyn],” Hailey told the Dodo.

"The only time somebody should ever approach Flynn and I is if I am unconscious and/or having a seizure. Besides that, nobody should try to pet or get near him. I wish people could understand that's what the giant stop sign patch means. If somebody distracts him I can get seriously hurt. If you see a service dog in public please educate your children, your friends, your family, anybody else that they are doing a really important job. Thank you."

While Flynn was distracted from the petting, Hailey had a seizure. “I am used to him giving me 10 minute warnings, so when he alerted that’s what I thought I had,” explained Hailey. “Out of nowhere I remember the world going black. I woke up with Flynn on top of my legs and my father cradling my head. On the whole left side of my face there was a terrible sting that made me tear up.” 

"My service dog is my lifeline. I don't say that to be cute. He helps keep me alive just like life support. If he gets distracted this happens. If he gets distracted I can die. Do not pet service dogs. Do not call to service dogs. Do not taunt service dogs. Do not talk to service dogs. Do not do anything to service dogs. Thank you," she wrote on Instagram.

Many of us are so eager to connect with animals, we often forget that they are protecting their human. Let's learn something from another's mistake and be more mindful of other people's animals!

Hailey Ashmore / Instagram

These Household Dogs Gave Up Everything To Serve Their Country In WWII

"The bond between dogs and humans is at least 30,000 years old. Dogs have helped humans with everything from hunting to herding, and most importantly, companionship. Although dogs have long since served in armies dating back to ancient times, the U.S. military didn’t start actively using dog soldiers until the early 1940s. The military realized that dogs could do things that humans could not, like sniff out land mines.

Source: Wikimedia

When the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor in 1941, the US military only had a few soldier dogs, which were Huskies stationed in Alaska.

Source: Northlight Media

Because the military realized how helpful pups could be right around the time that the US was attacked, the American military was in a bit of a pickle to find and train some canine soldiers. To get the 125,000 canine soldiers the war effort needed, the military sent out a call to Americans to loan their dogs to serve beside American troops.

Source: This American Life

This was a time when Americans did everything they possibly could to help the military. Rationing food, donating scrap metal, growing victory gardens– and loaning the family pet for service.

Source: PetMD

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These household pups were trained to be sentries, scouts, messengers, or mine detectives. The military also taught them things like perfect obedience and to attack when ordered and grab a trigger arm if a gun was around. When people volunteered their pups, the military warned folks that their dogs might come home with a different personality– they said to not be surprised if their dog came home “a killer.”

Source: This American Life

Throughout the dogs’ tours of duty, some handlers and trainers sent letters home to their owners for Christmas and to inform them of their dog’s performance throughout the war.

Source: This American Life

The above reads:

“Rex, a scout dog, gave warning of the presence of Japanese near a Marine position during the night of the seventh day of the operation. At daybreak the Japanese attacked our position. As a result of ‘Rex’s’ warning, the Marines were prepared for the attack of the Japanese and were successful in repelling it. ‘Rex’s’ action was undoubtedly instrumental in saving the lives of many Marines.”

Sadly, like many human soldiers, some dog soldiers didn’t come home.

Source: This American Life

But many did. Newspapers at the time publicized that war-trained dogs would be “deprogrammed” before being discharged with lots of petting and cuddling.

Source: This American Life

Even though the dogs didn’t know what the war was for, they did what they’d been asked to do. As always.

Source: This American Life

These four-legged civilians helped end a global and deadly war. They came from the back yards of small towns and big cities and exhibited the blind loyalty, courage, and intelligence that only a dog can possess– forever deepening the intricate bond between our two species.

For more info on this story, listen to the incredible podcast on This American Life.

Featured image from The Telegraph. Article by: Stacie Grissom

A Cow Walks Up To A Man And Dog And Does The SWEETEST Thing Ever!

I thought this was so cute, I just had to share it! :D


A Cow Walks Up To A Man And Dog And Does The SWEETEST Thing Ever!

When you think of cute and cuddly pets, cows don’t normally come to mind. But this bovine beauty is here to change your perception of “adorable” forever. She’s perfectly content to snuggle right up to her human and canine best friend, and what happens once they all get comfy together might have melted my heart into a puddle!





Read More Here!       Article credit: Averi Clements