[ad_1]
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
[ad_2]
Tag: pets
-
No, dogs can’t get autism from vaccines — experts say pets need to get their shots
No, dogs can’t get autism from vaccines — experts say pets need to get their shots – CBS News
-
Stream Dog-Friendly Content for Your homebound Pup — Just $150 for a Lifetime Subscription | Entrepreneur
[ad_1]
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
We work hard for our family. And our canine friends are certainly part of the family. We buy them special foods, take them on walks, and to check-ups at the vet. We also feel guilty when we have to go into the office or away on a business trip without them. It’s even more heartbreaking when they have a hard time without us, becoming anxious, stressed, or sullen.
If you’re familiar with this scenario, you might want to check out DogTV. Much like a Netflix for dogs, this streaming service features content made specially for dogs. It was created by scientists and dog experts to include a variety of types of programs to help your pup remain happy.
Your best friend won’t be sitting on the couch lounging all day in front of the day like we humans would. DogTV incorporated dog-friendly sounds, with no sudden noises or scary frequencies, so they can get up to roam freely and use their incredible dog hearing to tune into what’s happening on DogTV.
A good way to help alleviate stress and destructive behavior while you’re out of the house, DogTV content also adapts colors to suit how dogs see the world. The content is designed to include consistent on-screen motion, playful animated sequences, dogs, and other animals to keep your fur baby interested and mentally stimulated.
With a 4.2/5 rating on the App Store, DogTV gives you access to content 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can also be a great source of entertainment for dog owners who get a kick out of watching their dogs react to engaging content.
Available at a best-on-web price, this service can give you peace of mind that your pup is happy while you go out and conquer the world.
Get a lifetime subscription to DogTV for just $149.99 (reg. $838) while you can.
Prices subject to change.
[ad_2]
Entrepreneur Store
Source link -
Here Kitty, Kitty! Help Your Cat Stay Active with This Interactive Cat Toy for just $24.99. | Entrepreneur
[ad_1]
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
This is not an uncommon scenario. You’re busy building your business from your home office, but your furry little friend wants to play. Maybe she meows at you for attention. Or maybe she jumps up on your desk and sprawls out over your keyboard. And while throwing a catnip toy around can entertain your cat for a minute or two, it’s not really enough to keep her busy and fulfilled while you work.
This Interactive Cat Toy can be the solution to your pet-owner’s conundrum. It’s made to automatically change direction after colliding with a solid object. So, even if you can’t spend the time playing with Mrs. Whiskers, the interactive nature of this toy will be the next best thing.
With two speeds and 360-degree rotation, this toy comes with a USB charging cable, a user manual, and three replaceable feathers that give your precious kitty cat a little variety to keep her interested.
Made with cat health in mind, it features changing LED lights that are a safer alternative to the standard lasers used for cat toys. It’s also made with BPA-free, eco-friendly ABS and rubber material to keep your cat safe.
The touch-activated toy has a self-balancing system that ensures it stays upright while your cat plays. And the voice control function automatically turns the toy on when you make a sound or clap your hands.
The long-lasting rechargeable battery means kitty can play longer, leaving you free to roll up your sleeves, hop on your computer, and get back to work. Plus, it’s easy to clean and ultra-quiet for added convenience.
Pick up an interactive cat toy with LED light and three interchangeable feathers for $24.99 (reg. $35).
Prices subject to change.
[ad_2]
Entrepreneur Store
Source link -
9/10: CBS Weekend News
[ad_1]
9/10: CBS Weekend News – CBS News
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
[ad_2]
-
Colorado animal shelter tackling surging pet surrenders with new tactic
[ad_1]
Colorado animal shelter tackling surging pet surrenders with new tactic – CBS News
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
[ad_2]
-
Austin Pets Alive! | Open Letter from Dr. Ellen Jefferson, President…
[ad_1]
Sep 05, 2023
Today, Austin Pets Alive! has made the difficult decision to provide a 30-day notice to end our veterinary services contract with Laredo Animal Care Services (LACS).
When we began our partnership with LACS earlier this year, at the request of the Laredo city council and community, it was with the whole-hearted intention to help meet the city’s goals of providing medical care and practices that further saved lives. Every vaccine given and disease prevented, medical treatment administered, surgery conducted, and animal transported to another rescue partner was done to not only fulfill our contractual obligations but as a moral obligation to the pets being sheltered in the city. We heard from community member after community member how much it meant to them that their city shelter could become more aligned with the word “shelter” — providing true safety and care to pets that are lost, displaced or abandoned.
We’re very proud of the work we did alongside many of the dedicated LACS staff members. The last eight months have led to more than 1,000 spay/neuter surgeries (an approx 400% increase from the previous Veterinary vendor) and raised the feline live outcome rate to a historical high of over 70%. Dogs and cats that were once euthanized for having something as simple as a cold were treated and many have already been adopted.
Unfortunately, we were met with resistance from shelter leadership. Over the past few months as the changes required became more real, and hard, the goals of LACS shifted away from a lifesaving focus and back toward operating at a lower capacity for care and lifesaving. This approach means that thousands of animals who should live long healthy lives will continue to die in order to meet a regressive goal. We cannot in good conscience continue working under such a drastic diversion from the original goals the city council laid out for us to follow.
It hurts our hearts to leave so many pets and people behind but we believe that we have no other choice. Our true hope is that Laredoans saw that life saving was possible and that they will demand the changes necessary to be a humane city for beloved pets.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ellen Jefferson
President and CEO
Austin Pets Alive!
[ad_2]
-
Dramatic shot of a falcon striking a pelican wins Bird Photographer of the Year top prize
[ad_1]
Photographer Jack Zhi’s dramatic image of a female peregrine falcon striking a brown pelican mid-flight beat over 23,000 other entries to win the Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 gold award.
“For four years, I attempted to capture the rare sight of the female falcon attacking large brown pelicans with incredible speed and agility,” Zhi said in a statement Tuesday. “I love the eyes of the pelican in this image, surprised and scared. The action was fast, and over in the blink of an eye. But I’ll remember that moment forever.”
JACK ZHI/BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Photographers competed in a number of different categories in the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year awards — a global competition described as a celebration of avian beauty and diversity.
German teenager Anton Trexler picked up the Young Bird Photographer of the Year award for his image entitled “Blue Hour and Red Moon,” which shows the silhouette of a black bird against an illuminated moon.
ANTON TREXLER/BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Below is a selection of other images that won gold, silver or bronze in various categories from the contest:
HENLEY SPIERS/BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The above image of a blue-footed booby rising with a sardine in its mouth was taken by photographer Henley Spiers. It won silver in the “behavior” catetory.
“In early autumn, a sardine shoal at Los Islotes attracted seabird predators,” Spurs said. “Amid the shoal, I waited patiently for the elusive shot of a blue-footed booby rising with a sardine in its beak. Finally, a crash came down close to me, and I instinctively captured the moment.”
NICOLAS REUSENS/BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Nicolas Reusens won gold in the “portrait” category with his image of a rare green tanager, which he captured while wandering in a tropical forest.
“After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid-green bird on a perfect heart-shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colors,” Reusens said, describing his photograph.
AFAEL ARMADA/BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
This image of a sword-billed hummingbird, taken in Bogota, Colombia, was captured by photographer Rafael Armada.
The bird has the world’s longest beak proportionate to its size and Armada described the image as capturing the bird “approaching a feeder, with natural backgrounds and lighting.”
Clément Cornec/Bird Photographer of the Year
Three emperor penguins stand on a frozen mountain in Adélie Land, Antarctica in Clément Cornec’s photograph which won silver in the the “birds in their environment” category of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 awards.
Emperor Penguins endure temperatures as low as -40 degrees during the long polar nights, when blizzards can whip up winds to 155mph.
You can click here to see all the award winners from this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year awards.
[ad_2]
-
Austin Pets Alive! | Help the Pets of Hays County – Brief Survey
[ad_1]
Sep 01, 2023
Your participation is important to us! Please complete this brief survey to better inform how we serve people and pets in Hays County.
This survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. All information received will be strictly confidential.
_____________________________________
Ayude a las mascotas del condado de Hays: breve encuesta
¡Su participación es importante para nosotros! Complete esta breve encuesta para informar mejor cómo servimos a las personas y las mascotas en Hays County.
Completar esta encuesta le tomará aproximadamente 5 minutos. Toda la información recibida será tratada de forma estrictamente confidencial.
_____________________________________
Learn more about the partnership:
Hays County has partnered with non-profit organization Austin Pets Alive! to lead the development of a new animal shelter that will provide programs focused on public safety, animal safety and lifesaving, increased public access to important resources for pet owners, and community education to provide safe and humane care for pets.
We are conducting a community survey to help guide the Hays County Pet Resource Center program development, and we need your help! Your participation will help guide the future of people and pets in the area.
You can read more about the project and stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter by visiting https://linktr.ee/hayspetresource
Conozca más sobre la asociación:
¡Hays County está trabajando con Austin Pets Alive! para desarrollar un nuevo modelo de bienestar animal propuesto que proporcionará programas centrados en la seguridad pública, la seguridad animal y el salvamento de vidas, un mayor acceso público a recursos importantes para los dueños de mascotas y educación comunitaria para proporcionar un cuidado seguro y humano a las mascotas. Para ayudar a guiar el desarrollo de Hays County Pet Resource Center, estamos realizando una evaluación de las necesidades de la comunidad.
Estamos realizando una encuesta comunitaria para ayudar a guiar el desarrollo del programa del Hays County Pet Resource Center, ¡y necesitamos su ayuda! Su participación ayudará a guiar el futuro de las personas y las mascotas en el área.
Puede leer más sobre el proyecto y las ultimas noticias suscribiéndote a nuestro boletín visitando https://linktr.ee/hayspetresource
Read our Press Release from August 30, 2023 Below:
Help the People and Pets of Hays County by Sharing Your Feedback
Hays County Pet Resource Center and Austin Pets Alive! Launch Community Survey
HAYS COUNTY – Calling all Hays County community members and animal lovers to participate in an important survey! Your participation will help guide the future of animal welfare in the area.
Hays County has partnered with non-profit organization Austin Pets Alive! to lead the development of a new animal shelter that will provide programs focused on public safety, animal safety and lifesaving, increased public access to important resources for pet owners, and community education to provide safe and humane care for pets. The survey launches September 1, and community participation will help determine programs for the Hays County Pet Resource Center.
“We want to know what the community’s needs are for people and pets,” said Lee Ann Shenefiel, Austin Pets Alive! Executive Advisor and Project Coordinator. “All survey responses will be looked at and considered, so this is an important opportunity for the community to share their input with us and drive the conversation from the beginning on what people and pets need in Hays County. ”
The project aims to implement recommendations from a 2022 feasibility study that proposed an animal welfare model for Hays County. This includes the construction of a new shelter designed to support 2000 dogs and cats annually, investment in robust community programs designed to reduce the number of animals coming into the shelter and help keep people and pets together, and a high-volume public veterinary clinic. Initial construction estimates are around $24 million.
The survey is open to participants through September 30 and is available in online and print formats in English and Spanish. Austin Pets Alive! is also looking for volunteers to attend local events promoting the Pet Resource Center. Volunteers will visit with local community partners to share information about the project, gather survey input, and input survey results. Training and community service hours are provided, and application fees are waived for Hays County volunteers. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit austinpetsalive.org/volunteer or email [email protected].
Please contact us at [email protected] to schedule any interviews or for more information.
[ad_2]
-
Austin Pets Alive! | A Picture of Transport Success: Darla
[ad_1]
Aug 26, 2023
APA!’s National Shelter Support team was working at a partner shelter location when they first laid eyes on sweet Darla. With legs too scared to walk, the 8-month old Golden Retriever was being taken to the euthanasia room in a wheelbarrow when a member of our team intervened.
Jordana Moerbe urgently shared Darla’s story with rescue partners throughout the country in hopes of getting a shelter to accept her into their care; a “yes” from a shelter would mean a ticket onto the upcoming lifesaving transport flight.
“We had to pull her, we had to save her,” Moerbe said. “We hope that she’s able to come out of her shell and be the happy puppy she deserves to be. It’s what every one of the pets in the shelter deserves, and that’s what we’re working so hard for.”
Mile High Lab Rescue in Denver accepted her into their care and when this deserving dog landed in July of 2023, she went straight into a loving foster home, where she was given the time and space to gain confidence to become a wiggly puppy.
[ad_2]
-
CDC Warns: Stop Puckering Up To Your Pet Turtles
[ad_1]
Getting cozy with your pet turtle might not be a good idea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week, public health officials advised people not to “kiss or cuddle” their shelled companions after a multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to tiny turtles.
Twenty-six people across 11 states have fallen ill from the outbreak and nine had to be hospitalized. No fatalities have been reported, but more that 30% of the cases hit children under the age of 5, who can be seriously affected by an infection.
While turtles of any size can carry salmonella, the CDC said creatures smaller than four inches long were banned by federal law in 1975 after causing “many illnesses, especially in young children.”
A false map humpback turtle from Hamburg, Germany. picture alliance via Getty Images
Still, smaller breeds are available “illegally online and at stores, flea markets, and roadside stands,” so the CDC advised people to only buy animals from reputable sources.
The agency noted that even healthy-looking turtles can spread germs, so pet owners should be vigilant about hand-washing and general hygiene.
It also warned against eating near pet turtles, and warned people to keep turtles out of areas where you eat, store or prepare food.
Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. While not usually serious, it can cause complications in children, older adults and people who are immunocompromised.
Each year, 26,500 Americans are hospitalized and 420 people die from illnesses related to salmonella infections, according to the CDC.
While turtles have a history of causing health concerns, they’re not the only pets that have been linked to salmonella outbreaks.
Last year the CDC reported 32 illnesses stemming from contact with bearded dragons. Pet hedgehogs were linked to 49 cases from 2019 to 2020.
[ad_2]
-
Austin Pets Alive! | Progress Update of APA!’s Veterinary Services…
[ad_1]
Aug 23, 2023
The City of Laredo and Laredo Animal Care Services (LACS) partnered with Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) in February 2023 as a result of the city’s desire to meet the Laredo community’s need for shelter improvement. Due to limited resources, LACS has historically faced challenges in implementing veterinary best practices, struggling to save half of the 8,000 pets that come into its shelter. Recognizing that a change was needed, LACS contracted with APA! to provide veterinary care services and updated shelter operations. Because LACS has unnecessarily delayed implementing animal welfare industry standards at its shelter, APA! is calling on the citizens of Laredo to join our efforts in advocating for the thousands of pets who are at risk of being euthanized.
APA! has been helping LACS with rescue transport since 2020 and partnered with LACS during Winter Storm Uri, which led to this bigger partnership. In May 2023, after working with LACS over many months, APA! built a set of customized recommendations and an implementation plan to establish Laredo as a leader in animal sheltering throughout South Texas. LACS has been presented with its first opportunity to accept resources, in the form of time and money, from a transformational organization to help save more animal lives. APA!’s objective is to help fill the gap in necessary training and support, at the request and with the cooperation of LACS, to help people and their pets in Laredo.
APA!’s implementation plan includes shelter best practices such as support at intake,Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) program, lost pet reunification, and placement programs. A people focused intake model, which includes an appointment-based intake of animals in non-emergency situations into the animal services facility, is a modern practice that prioritizes sick or injured pets, animals in immediate danger, or dogs that pose a threat to public safety. Organized intake frees up shelter resources to ensure emergencies and critical situations are handled promptly and effectively.
PROGRESS IN SAVING LIVES
APA!’s vet and national shelter support teams have made significant progress at LACS:
-
Since March, APA! doubled spay and neuters with over 1,000 animals, and in 2023 since the start of the contract, we have brought the feline live outcome rate to over 65%. APA! is responsible for over 1,100 live outcomes in 2023 through rescue transport.
-
Implemented treatment protocols to ensure every sick, treatable animal receives medication and vaccines, health certificates, and more to increase the number of pets saved.
-
Performed an elevated level of medical attention for shelter animals, including leg amputations, mass removals, surgeries, and more to save the pet’s life. Previously animals requiring this care would have been automatically euthanized.
Furthermore, APA! designed free custom staff training, over 30 standard operating procedures, and an implementation plan for LACS based on best practices that include:
-
Intake Counseling and Triage – To help provide treatment and care to the animals in need, providing consent-based resources for pets that may not need to come to the shelter, and reducing euthanasia rates.
-
Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) program – To ensure stray cats aren’t euthanized upon intake at alarming rates.
-
Lost Pet Reunification – To ensure that at least the national standard number of lost pets make it back to their families.
-
Placement Programs- Rescue/Transport, Adoption, Case Management, Foster, Volunteer – To help reduce the number of pets at the shelter by promoting adoptions, fostering, and working with rescue partners.
The implementation of these programs and procedures is fundamental to the success of the contract between Austin Pets Alive! and Laredo Animal Care Services to increase adoptions and provide community guidance to better support the people and pets of Laredo. APA! is also providing additional resources such as:
-
5 Full-time employees (4 directly operations focused and local to Laredo and 1 focused on marketing and communication)
-
National Field Services in-person training
-
Online course module with in-person guidance and assessment for free
-
Weekly transport van and driver dedicated to picking up Laredo animals and taking in-state partners.
-
Once a month, state transport van and driver assistance are dedicated to Laredo animals.
-
$90K pet food donation for the community via HSUS/Chewy secured by APA!.
-
Adoption incentive grant of $3,000 for gift bags for adopters.
-
Handouts, flyers, resources, and posters – printed for the front lobby, and for staff to hand out to the community to help people with their pets.
CHALLENGES BEING FACED:
While APA! has addressed the many issues with LACS’s current practices by providing recommendations, staff training, and standard operating procedures, LACS has unnecessarily delayed implementing animal welfare industry standards at its shelter.
APA!’s implementation plan, introduced in May 2023, includes shelter best practices such as support at intake, Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) program, lost pet reunification, and placement programs.
To be successful, Laredo Animal Care Services needs to implement these changes immediately and take the community’s and animals’ needs into consideration. Many of the recommendations made by APA! in May have yet to be implemented, leading to the continued killing and warehousing of shelter pets.
HISTORY
When APA!’s team first arrived at LACS, they encountered dire conditions, including an extremely high rate of disease in pets–predominately parvovirus; overcrowding, unsanitary kennels; inadequate water and food supplies; and unattended injured animals in urgent need of medical care.
Upon arrival, APA! quickly identified and implemented immediate solutions to solve these harsh conditions and continued to work with the LACS team to implement additional medical and treatment protocols. These actions have already contributed to saving the lives of several hundred pets that most certainly would have died without intervention due to lack of medical care and euthanasia. The year-end goal is to increase live outcomes to 90%, almost double what they were when APA! first arrived.
[ad_2]
-
-
This Wildly Popular Smart Air Purifier Is 59% Off Right Now
[ad_1]
HuffPost receives a share from retailers on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
If you’re tired of dust and dander in your home or if you’re always looking for a way to nix unpleasant home odors caused by your four-legged friend, it may be time to buy an air purifier. Today specifically may be the time, since the beloved Bissel Air320 smart air purifier is currently 59% off.
Loved by pet owners, parents and people who like breathing clean air, this purifier has a fabric pre-filter, an activated carbon filter and a HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of large and fine particles. It also picks up smoke, smells from food and cooking, gases, pollen and other airborne allergens.
Not to mention, it looks pretty sleek ― almost like a vintage speaker.
This air purifier is certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and refreshes air in spaces up to 1,582 square feet in one hour, so it’s perfect for living rooms, basements or other large spaces. The lowest of its five fan speeds can be super quiet, making it a great purifier for a bedroom, too.
The Bissell Air320 has auto-adjusting fans and can give you air quality feedback as it’s working. It will let you know when it’s time to replace the filter, so you never need to play the guessing game wondering if it’s still working. Twenty-five inches high, it has chic tapered legs and a modern shape that will make it a welcome functional and stylish addition to any home.
With a 4.6-star overall rating at Amazon from thousands of reviews, this air purifier is a fan favorite. Here’s what some happy customers had to say:
“This air filter is worth the money. The auto feature enables the device to detect the purity of the air and adjust the airflow accordingly. You can also override the auto feature and set the fan speed to your desired setting. On the lowest setting, it’s whisper quiet but on the highest setting, it sounds like an industrial fan — which is exactly what you want for purifying a lot of air as quickly as possible. The filter access is super convenient, making changing filters easy and fast. There is a little air sensor on the side that requires cleaning every six months but all that entails is a little wipe down. This thing is also super stylish and easy to set up — simply remove the filters from the bags and re-install them, then plug it in and turn it on! 10/10, would recommend without hesitation” — Mischa
“This purifier is astonishingly good. It says our air is super clean. A ‘3’ or ‘6’ is on the screen and it shuts down until it detects something! We needed to cut a piece of cabinet out of our kitchen last week and while we were doing that, this purifier kicked on full bore on its own! There was a slight burning smell from the cutting and this machine read 200 something with orange lighting. It ran for 30 mins and we watched the number go down down down. Once it was down to ‘3’ it went quiet again. This wasn’t in the kitchen. It was in the living room. I was shocked that it detected and cleaned up the smoky smell from 30 feet away. Before this incident, I wasn’t sure it did much. Now I’m a true believer. It does the same thing when I cook fish. We set the filters on Subscribe and Save to auto ship every 6 months.” — J&S
“Our dryer hose disconnected and we didn’t realize it. Our house was so cloudy, it looked like we were walking through fog, and everything was covered in a fresh coating of dust every day! My husband figured out what had happened, and my daughter had just bought this air purifier, so we purchased one. Our air quality went from 999 down to 2 in a week! Now we can breathe clean air and not be embarrassed by all of the dust.”— Lori
“We ordered to try and help with allergies for everyone in the family. We also have 2 small dogs so trying to help with smell. After about 24/48hrs we could really tell a difference. A few days later is when I figured out just how well it was working on smells. I cooked bacon for breakfast and most days you could smell it in the house all day long. We ate and I noticed when we were leaving about 30min later the air quality was up to 18. We came home 2 hours later and you couldn’t smell the bacon at all and the quality was back down around 4. Our home is split level and this unit sits upstairs in the dining room, area it’s covering is about 2,500 square feet. I have another one ordered for our downstairs area also. I would not hesitate to recommend this item.” — mystery girl
[ad_2]
-
Our Side Hustle Lets Us Stay for Free in Homes Around the World | Entrepreneur
[ad_1]
Like many young couples, Austin Andrews and Jori Kerr wanted to travel but couldn’t afford the sky-high expenses. Then Jodi stumbled upon a blog post touting the benefits of pet sitting.
“I discovered we could stay in amazing homes around the world for free, caring for great animals,” Kerr recalls.
They paid an annual fee (around $130/year) to join a service called Trusted House Sitters and waited for a response. After a few months, the couple from Bend, Oregon, got an invitation to go down to Grenada in the Caribbean for 14 days to care for a few pets.
The trip was magical, with endless sunsets, long walks on the beach, and free lodging.
“That set our path. After that, we just knew that was what we wanted to do,” says Andrews.
Two years later, the couple has made their love of travel and caring for animals a full-time job. Their company Nomads and Pawpads is a content marketing business that chronicles their adventures pet sitting in 11 countries in 5 different contents. In addition to staying in luxurious homes around the world for free, they earn up to $22,000 a month.
Nomads and Pawpads
Related: These Dog Walkers Are Making $100,000 a Year
Starting as a side hustle
Before launching Nomads and Pawpads, Andrews and Kerr were content just traveling the world taking care of pets as a side hustle.
Kerr worked at a brewery in customer service, and Andrews was a landscaper. They traveled during the winter when Andrews wasn’t working, and Kerr could work remotely.
Although their rent was free, they weren’t getting paid to pet sit. Visa restrictions do not allow international house sitters to get paid for their work. House sitting is a free exchange. They occasionally received money to pet sit around the U.S., but international travel excited them. They needed to figure out a way to make it work.
The solution: Write about their travels using affiliate marketing and social media collaborations to monetize. The couple uses their website, Instagram, and TikTok to market their pet-sitting lifestyle, offering advice, resources, and paid links to house exchange platforms such as Trusted House Sitters.
Other popular pet-sitting sites include:
As content marketing revenue increased, they could quit their other jobs and take on full-time pet sitting. They now spend about 6 to 9 months out of the year abroad.
Some of their most memorable experiences include trips to the beaches of South Portugal and stays in Singapore and Hanoi.
Most of the requests are easy—walk and feed the dog and/or cat, change the litter, give them fresh water, and light grooming. They’re also asked to take out the garbage and collect the mail, simple requests that leave them plenty of free time to explore their location.
But sometimes, pet owners require something a little out of the ordinary. Recently, they were asked to walk a cat in a stroller. They also had to feed a bearded dragon named Athena.
“That was definitely one of our most exotic pets,” says Andrews. “But she was super easy.”
Related: Do You Love Animals? Here Are 5 Ways You Can Turn Your Passion into Real Money
Is pet sitting right for you?
Pet sitting may sound like a fun and affordable way to see the world, but it’s not for everyone. Andrews and Kerr believe there are a few traits you need to possess to make it work.
You have to be an animal lover. Both Andrew and Kerr are big animal fans. Kerr grew up on a game bird farm with dreams of being a veterinarian. “But I couldn’t really handle the sad part of that,” she says. “Pet sitting is perfect because I still get to be around animals, and, you know, there are some stressful moments for sure.
You have to be flexible and creative. Travel schedules change, so you need to be willing to adapt. You also have to be creative about your going pay your way. Remember, international pet-sitting jobs only cover your housing costs. So you’ll need to figure out how to pay for the rest of the trip. One bonus about Europe, says Andrews. “It’s much cheaper once you get there. It’s like $60 to fly from Rome to Paris.”
You have to be a good communicator. Make sure you’re in good communication with the pet owners. Leaving your home and pets in the hands of strangers can be stressful. “You wanna make sure everyone’s comfortable and on the same page,” says Andrews.
Nomads and Pawpads
[ad_2]
Jonathan Small
Source link -
Keep Your Cats Happy With This $25 Automatic Toy | Entrepreneur
[ad_1]
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Whether you’re the head of an animal shelter, running your own cat cafe, or leading in another role with felines at the forefront, keeping the cats in your business happy is essential to smooth operations. You may be able to win your workers over with competitive pay and benefits, but cat currency is a little different — but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult to keep cats happy. International Cat Care reports that simply playing with the cats in your care is enough to make them happier, and there’s even technology that does some of the work for you.
This Interactive Cat LED Toy moves and balances on its own so your cats can play with it for hours. Normally, this automated cat toy would cost $35, but for a limited time, you can get it for $24.99.
This automatic cat toy is a fun, simple way to keep your cats entertained throughout the day. It features a smart self-balancing system that helps keep it upright, even through intense play. The toy even automatically changes direction after colluding with solid objects to keep cats guessing. Choose from five different operating modes, and take advantage of voice and clap controls to activate play time remotely.
The colorful LEDs are mesmerizing and may entice playful cats without the possibility of hurting their eyes like laser pointers can. Plus, the toy itself is made from eco-friendly ABS and rubber that are safe for your cat to play with.
Recharge your cat toy with any Type-C cable. It may only take an hour to get up to four hours of kitty playtime. Three replaceable feathers are included with your purchase, whether you use them to offer your cat variety or to replace them if your cat likes to play rough.
Get the interactive Cat Toy with LED Lights for just $24.99.
Prices subject to change.
[ad_2]
Entrepreneur Store
Source link -
Just 32 Purr-Fect Tweets To Celebrate International Cat Day
[ad_1]
In case you didn’t get the day off of work for International Cat Day — a holiday celebrated every year on Aug. 8 with the aim of inspspsps-ing people to take some time to play with their feline friends — we got a little something that’ll make your day feel a bit more paws-itive.
We scoured X, formerly Twitter, to find 32 funny tweets from 2023 about cats that are sure to make you want to pal around with your little potato.
So go ahead and scroll down meow — unless you have a cat.
If you do, feed them first. We don’t need anyone to have a hissy-fit on their special day.
[ad_2]
-
World’s smallest bear finally has its time in the sun. But is that a good thing? | CNN
[ad_1]
Hong Kong
CNN
—
The world’s smallest bear is finally having its moment in the sun – thanks to a viral video that sparked a conspiracy theory on Chinese social media.
Public interest in sun bears, one of Asia’s most endangered and intriguing animals, has rocketed after video footage emerged showing a bear named Angela in her enclosure at the Hangzhou zoo in eastern China standing upright on a rock and waving her paw.
The video sparked a global debate about the bear’s uncannily human-like appearance, so much so that conspiracy theories began emerging that Angela was really a human dressed in a bear costume.
Experts have since debunked those theories, attributing the misunderstandings in part to the relative obscurity of the sun bear, whose numbers in the wild are thought to have dwindled to between 1,000 and 2,500, according to conservation groups.
Various wildlife conservationists told CNN that they now hope all the attention surrounding Angela will help to raise awareness about the sun bear’s plight – they face threats including deforestation and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.
The bears are also commonly used in commercial bear bile farming – kept alive in tiny cages so their intestinal bile can be harvested and extracted in painful ways for use in traditional Chinese medicine.
“They are among the least known bears in the world – a forgotten species,” said wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te who founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center (BSBCC) in Sabah, Malaysia.
Wong has dedicated his life to researching, rescuing and rehabilitating sun bears and told CNN that he was encouraged to see “so much chatter and debate” about their behavior following the viral video.
“Sun bears are finally having their moment in the spotlight,” he said. “There is a lot to love about them which many people do not know about and they play important ecological roles. They are threatened by man and need more global attention and awareness to save the species.”
Since the videos of Angela spread across the internet, zoos in countries around the world have reported a wave of interest in the bears, which are native to Southeast Asia and named for the crescent shaped yellow, orange, amber or cream colored patches on their chests.
The Hangzhou zoo reported a 30 per cent surge in visitors to its sun bear enclosure following the videos, while an official at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, told CNN that it had been “all about sun bears” the past week.
Taronga zookeeper Logan Dudley said there had been an “uptick of people” this week showing interest in their resident sun bear Mary.
“They are a lesser known bear species… and are vulnerable and endangered,” she said. “With all the media attention surrounding the (sun bear videos) we have a good opportunity to further educate ourselves to save this species.”
Taronga Zoo is not alone. In a nod to the viral video, the Singapore Zoo shared footage of its own sun bears and confirmed they were “very real.”
Afiqah Nasir, a mother of two who visited Singapore Zoo on Friday, told CNN that the videos had amused her children and sparked their curiosity.
“We’re here because of that,” she said. “They now know that these are actual bears called sun bears and are not make believe, like people in T-rex costumes.”
Conservation director Bosco Chan at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Hong Kong said that it was now “crucial to step up protection of sun bears in the wild” and stop the illegal trade of their body parts.
“Sun bears are extremely rare and close to extinction. Their forest habitats, where destruction by industrial agriculture such as oil palm and rubber plantations remains rampant, must be strictly protected,” Chan said.
Aside from being mistaken as people in costume, experts say sun bears are also sometimes mistaken as big dogs due to their size.
The bears, also sometimes known as the “honey bear,” stand about 28 inches tall and weigh between 55 lbs to 143 lbs.
This relatively compact size, for a bear, makes them a target of the illegal wildlife pet trade.
Cubs are especially cute and docile and can be easily tamed compared to bigger and more aggressive bears, said bear expert Dave Garshelis, chair of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group.
“Poaching has escalated in recent years but sun bears are also threatened by the pet trade,” he said.
British colonial officer Thomas Stamford Raffles, who founded Singapore in 1819, is reputed to have kept a sun bear from Indonesia as a pet for two years, Garshelis noted.
A couple of centuries later and instances of people keeping the bears as pets continue to appear in media reports.
In 2019, a live sun bear was discovered in an apartment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It came to authorities’ attention after neighbors heard it whimpering and holding its paws out of the window. The owner claimed to have mistaken the bear “for a dog” and was fined $6,000 by a court.
Another woman was prosecuted for keeping a sun bear in her house in Singapore in 1993. She was fined $2,000 by the authorities and the animal was confiscated.
Garshelis has “mixed feelings” about the newfound fame of the sun bears. He fears it could encourage people to take them as pets and doubts it will lead to meaningful conservation efforts.
“All most people have learned is that sun bears often stand, have wrinkled skin and may even seem to wave their paws,” he said.
“In fact, it’s even possible that all this exposure has made people (consider them) as pets – there might be a small zoo somewhere looking to buy one to attract more visitors.”
“But they are a fascinating species,” he added.
“There’s so much more (to them) than standing and waving in a zoo.”
[ad_2]
-
Austin Pets Alive! | Offering Hearts and Home to Better Dogs Lives
[ad_1]
Aug 05, 2023
We love getting to know the pets while they are at the shelter, but when you take the dog out of the shelter environment, you get to see their personality really blossom!
Jessie and Chris Montoya have had a front row seat witnessing many fosters bloom since 2017. When APA! jumped into action to support the dogs and cats who needed help during hurricane Harvey, many individuals and families joined in, including the Montoyas. This couple knew they could offer their hearts and homes to pets in need and quickly found their niche form of fostering — offering time, space and consistent love to dogs who have some personality quirks that may offer hurdles to finding their loving home. They quickly joined in on our 5-Star Foster Program and the latest dog to benefit from their dedication? Beautiful, fun-loving, 1.5 year old Annette, foster number 12!
Prior to moving into the Montoya household, Annette was offered residency in one of our “tiny cabins,” which are small buildings meant to replicate home life and utilized to support the pets who need to destress from the hustle and bustle of being in a kennel. Having spent a few weeks in her own private suite, she was primed and ready for when The Montoyas let us know they were ready to bring in a new foster — this time, bringing along their own dog Fin, an APA! Alum, to make the choice! Jessie and Fin met Annette on a hot day in mid-July. She immediately showed them how fun, funny and goofy she is. The two dogs clicked instantly and everyone knew that this was the next dog the Montoya family would host. So off to foster Annette went, tail wags and all!
As a young dog, Annette still has some puppy-like behavior to work out, such as getting a handle on her mouthiness and knowing when to contain her zoomies, but she also knows how to chill. She loves to get out on the trail and hike or jog for long distances. She’s also perfectly house trained and does well on her own for an entire work day. And while the stress of the shelter prevented her from enjoying playing with dogs, thanks to this amazing household, we now know that she can thrive with and create a beautiful relationship with other dogs! She loves Fin as evidenced by their long wrestling sessions that end in snuggles!
In just a few short weeks, this sweet girl has grown so much! We’re so proud of her, and grateful for dedicated fosters like Jessie and Chris Montoya. Annette is ready for her adoptive home and The Montoyas are ready to help lucky number 13. Let’s get Annette into an adoptive home so one more dog will have the great privilege of spending time with this amazing family!
[ad_2]
-
‘Trickster’ Cat At Shelter Caught On Video Opening Door Himself And ‘Strutting His Stuff’
[ad_1]
A cat in a Nebraska animal shelter has made headlines for his skill with a door handle, but he’s still waiting for an adopter to open their door to him.
“Staff started to go crazy knowing they shut certain doors when they left at night but those same doors would be open in the morning……then today we discovered this,” the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln wrote July 27 on Facebook.
The post included a video of a black cat named Grimsen leaping up and grabbing a door’s lever handle with his paws, managing to pull it down to let himself out.
“Grimsen is the ultimate trickster,” the shelter wrote.
The cat’s adoption listing also cites his ingenuity, calling Grimsen a “VERY smart guy” who “has managed to teach himself how to open lever style doorknobs and walk freely amongst the other shelter cats strutting his stuff.”
Early in the morning on the day of the Facebook post, the shelter staff noticed that three different doors were open and Grimsen was strolling the hallway. He was returned to the room he shares with two other cats, but around noon, “Grimsen was spotted walking down the hallway again,” veterinary and behavior assistant Hillary Brandt told HuffPost in a Facebook message.
Not long after, Grimsen was once again returned to his room. This time, he was caught red-pawed opening the door.
Grimsen, probably coming up with another scheme. Unfortunately for a freedom-loving feline like Grimsen, it’s important that doors remain closed, especially after business hours.
“Doors stay closed at night so we know all cats are behaving properly and not throwing parties after hours, making messes and possibly fighting with others who don’t play well with feline friends,” said Sierra Kurth, the shelter’s fundraising and grants coordinator.
Grimsen had to spend a night in a cat condo inside a locked office before the shelter was able to add a hook apparatus to the doorknob of his regular room to prevent him from getting out ― though he still made an attempt.
The feline’s chaos-causing ways were mostly met with approval by those who commented on the shelter’s video.
“I’m Grimsen’s lawyer,” read a top comment from one justice-minded Facebook user. “My client is innocent.”
His story made multiple local news headlines, with KLKN-TV declaring him the cat who “can’t be contained.”
But despite his number of fans, Grimsen, who came to the shelter as a stray in mid-June, was still looking for someone to adopt him as of Friday. Preferably someone with a good sense of humor.
“He is a very active and comical boy,” Brandt said.
And despite his exceptional intelligence, Grimsen is no snob. His adoption listing notes that he “loves all the pets that you can give him, even when he has escaped and his presence surprises you.”
[ad_2]
-
Biden’s dog, Commander, bit Secret Service agents
[ad_1]
Biden’s dog, Commander, bit Secret Service agents – CBS News
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
[ad_2]
-
Pets don’t alleviate severe mental illness, study finds
[ad_1]
Newswise — Living with and having a close bond with a companion animal does not necessarily lead to significant mental health improvements in people with a serious mental illness, say researchers.
A survey, conducted by the University of York, revealed that living with an animal – a dog, cat, fish or bird for example – did not improve wellbeing or reduce depression, anxiety or feelings of loneliness for owners with serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, compared to those who live without an animal.
The researchers, who followed up on an earlier survey conducted in 2021 on investigating aspects of animal ownership and mental health during COVID-19, say their findings counteract the increasingly held belief that animals boost mental health and wellbeing in all contexts.
In a survey of 170 UK participants with serious mental illness, 81 reported having at least one animal, and more than 95% reported that their animal provided them with companionship, a source of consistency in their life, and made them feel loved.
Dogs and cats were reported as the most frequently owned pet, consistent with the general population. The majority of participants perceived the bond with their animal to be strong.
However, compared to people with serious mental illness who did not have an animal, no statistically significant improvements in mental health and feelings of loneliness were found in the study.
In the 2021 survey, which used the same cohort of participants, the team had found that having an animal was, in fact, associated with a self-reported decline in mental health among people with serious mental illness which may have been due to pandemic restrictions and the challenges of looking after their animal in the context of the lockdown.
Dr Emily Shoesmith, from the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, said: “It is now increasingly assumed that companion animals are beneficial for all owners’ mental health in most or all circumstances, but this may not be the case.
“The pandemic provided a unique opportunity in which to look more closely at this question, and we found that whilst many participants with serious mental illness reported that their animal was a ‘lifeline’ during this time, the benefits may have been outweighed by the additional stress and anxiety caused by caring for an animal in the lockdown context.
“These new data were collected after pandemic restrictions had been lifted, and although we found small improvements in terms of reported wellbeing outcomes since the previous survey, we did not find that animal ownership was significantly associated with enhanced wellbeing, depression, anxiety, or loneliness.”
Despite this, most participants perceived there to be a strong human-animal bond with their closest companion animal, and reported their animal provided them with companionship and a source of constancy in their life.
The researchers point out that companion animals may still be a vital part of the social network of people who have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, but that more work is needed to understand the nuances of the relationship, such as whether the type of animal makes a difference, as well as other external factors that might cause additional stress.
Dr Elena Ratschen, from the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, said: “One possible explanation for our current findings could be that the added responsibility of animal ownership may still exacerbate other potential stressors experienced by people living with severe mental illness. This includes the cost of food, veterinary bills and uncertainty over housing.
‘The findings suggest that the nature of human-animal interactions is complex. The bond between owners and animals was perceived to be high in this study and is undoubtedly very important in people’s lives.
“It is not necessarily reasonable, however, to assume that it is a means to improve symptoms of serious mental illness or disperse feelings of loneliness in a highly disadvantaged population of people with these illnesses.”
The study, published in the CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions, states that future research would benefit from recruiting a larger sample size and comparing a wider variation of species identified as the animal the participant felt closest to.
[ad_2]
University of York
Source link
