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Colorado's Copper Creek wolf pack -- with new pups in tow -- is under scrutiny again after cattle killings
DENVER — Colorado’s first wolf pack since the species’ reintroduction in 2023 is once again under intense scrutiny after a series of cattle depredations in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Cattle killings in Pitkin County this summer have spurred calls in recent weeks to remove the entire Copper Creek pack — comprising two adults, three ...Read more

Some people are giving up their pets as costs rise
MINNEAPOLIS -- Julie Koch has seen 31 dogs come and go from her Minneapolis home over the last four years. She’s a foster for Ruff Start Rescue, which cares for animals across Minnesota.
Right now, she’s caring for a lovable 6-year-old white German Shepherd named Stone. He came to her from Texas in 2021 and was adopted in 2022. But in ...Read more

Krypto's legacy is everyone's super dog
Few characters in the Superman mythos carry as much emotional resonance as Krypto the Superdog. Introduced in the Silver Age of comics, Krypto has been everything from a whimsical sidekick to a deeply symbolic anchor of Superman's heritage. As a superpowered canine from Krypton, Krypto’s story has consistently paralleled the Last Son of ...Read more

Aging Gracefully: Caring for Your Senior Cat
By the time a cat reaches 10 years of age, many owners begin to notice subtle changes. Slower movements, longer naps, and a certain contemplative look in the eyes all signal the passage from adulthood into the feline golden years. As more cats live well into their teens and even twenties thanks to advances in veterinary care and improved ...Read more

The Secret Lives of Indoor Cats: What Are They Really Up To?
By day, they’re sleeping on sun-drenched windowsills. By night, they’re tearing through hallways as if possessed. The average indoor cat may appear to lead a life of indolent luxury, but behind that stoic expression and rhythmic purring lies a surprisingly complex set of behaviors. Whether you live with a curious kitten or a senior feline ...Read more

DIY Enrichment Toys Using Household Items
Enrichment isn’t just for zoo animals—our cats and dogs benefit from it too. Providing mental stimulation helps prevent boredom, reduces anxiety and can even curb unwanted behaviors. But pet owners don’t need to spend a fortune on store-bought gadgets. Many of the best enrichment toys can be made at home with common household items, a ...Read more

Decoding the Zoomies: Why Your Pet Goes Wild at Random
Anyone who has ever watched their cat tear through the hallway like a racecar or seen their dog suddenly bolt around the yard in manic circles has witnessed the phenomenon known as “the zoomies.” These sudden bursts of frenetic energy are entertaining, puzzling and sometimes concerning. But according to veterinarians and animal behaviorists,...Read more

The Great Pet Food Debate: Wet vs. Dry for Cats and Dogs
For pet owners, choosing between wet and dry food can feel like picking sides in an age-old debate. While both forms of pet nutrition offer benefits and drawbacks, the best choice often depends on the pet’s age, health status, lifestyle and—perhaps most importantly—their personal preferences.
Nutrition and moisture content One of ...Read more

How to Take in a Feral Cat
Taking in a feral cat can be a deeply rewarding experience, but it requires patience, preparation and a clear understanding of the difference between feral, stray and domesticated cats. While stray cats may have once had human contact and can readjust to indoor life more quickly, feral cats are typically born and raised outdoors with little or ...Read more

The Working Cat: Real Stories of Felines on Farms, in Warehouses, and Even Offices
Mouse patrol with whiskers and claws
Long before they became pampered companions sprawled across sunlit windowsills, cats held a more rugged role. They were workers. On farms, in factories, and lately—even in tech offices—cats have earned their keep by keeping pests at bay, providing stress relief to employees, and even building ...Read more

Why does my cat keep attacking my feet?
If you’ve ever walked barefoot across your living room only to be ambushed by a furry little missile with claws, you’re not alone. Countless cat owners have found themselves the target of ankle assaults, toe nibbles, or sneak attacks from under furniture. While the behavior may seem cute—or at least tolerable—when your kitten is small, ...Read more

Famous cats: Trim the Sailor Cat, Felix the Cat, and Grumpy Cat
From silent companions in royal courts to viral sensations in the age of memes, cats have captivated human hearts for centuries. While thousands of felines have played a role in myth, art, and media, a few stand out as icons whose influence transcends their nine lives. Three such cats—Trim the Sailor Cat, Felix the Cat, and Grumpy Cat—each ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Film Covering Dog's Eye Needs Veterinarian Exam
Q: I adopted a middle-aged German shepherd mix from the shelter today and was told he has an eye condition called pannus. His veterinarian won't be able to see him for another week, so I hope you'll tell me about pannus and whether it's painful.
A: Pannus is the common name for chronic superficial keratitis. Superficial keratitis is ...Read more

My Pet World: Helping Kasey feel safe — Building trust with a nervous cat
Dear Cathy,
We got Kasey when he was two, many years ago, from my daughter who passed away. He’s now a healthy 14-year-old tuxedo. Kasey is afraid of me and avoids all men. He connects with my wife on a limited basis, sometimes sitting near her or briefly on her lap, but only in the evening, near her lounge chair, and only if I’m not in the...Read more

New dog-sized dinosaur unearthed from Colorado rock formation
DENVER — A new dinosaur species unearthed from the famed Morrison Formation in Colorado has been identified, according to a journal article published last week in Royal Society Open Science.
Scientists have named the speedy, dog-sized dinosaur Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae, according to the article. Its skeleton, or what fossil hunters could ...Read more
Ask the Vet: Young Dog's Skin Mass May Disappear Without Treatment
Q: Beau, our 1-year-old dachshund, had a small, round, pink mass on his ear. Scheduling an appointment with his veterinarian took longer than usual, and just before the appointment, the mass disappeared, so we canceled. What was the mass?
A: It sounds like Beau may have had a histiocytoma, a common skin tumor that usually disappears without ...Read more

My Pet World: When thunderstorms and fireworks trigger panic — Helping a dog cope with noisephobia
Dear Cathy,
My daughter's dog is a 12-year-old Border Collie/Aussie mix. He's the best dog, except when it comes to thunderstorms, or even gentle rain. When she's home, he will stand shaking with his head down. With thunder, he'll find someplace to hide, but if she's not home, he becomes destructive, even to the point of clawing the hose from ...Read more
How a deaf puppy is learning sign language to save his life
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Frankie, a blue-eyed Catahoula Leopard Dog, was just a few weeks old when he was found abandoned on the side of a Charlotte street — one of more than 6 million animals dumped across the U.S. each year. Weighing only 7 pounds and riddled with hookworms, he was taken in by Angels to the Animals, a rescue group that hoped to ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Undetectable Bat Bite Can Transmit Rabies
Q: Our cat Brewster tangled with a bat in our house. I managed to get the bat away from him and move it outside. Brewster's rabies vaccination is current, and I don't see any bites on him. Do I need to make an appointment with his veterinarian?
A: Yes. It's prudent to assume Brewster was bitten by the bat. Bat teeth are tiny, and most people ...Read more

My Pet World: Excited dog, embarrassing habit — How to handle submissive urination and jumping
Dear Cathy,
My six-year-old Aussie Doodle gets so excited she urinates when a female guest visits and shows her some attention. When she is ignored, she jumps on that person. How can I stop this behavior?
— Elaine, Westbury, New York
Dear Elaine,
The first behavior – urinating when a guest pays attention to your dog – is known as ...Read more