Wildlife in the Winter
Winter is a cold, dark season in the Northern Hemisphere. How do wild animals survive during this time of year?
Behind the Breed: Anatolian Shepherd
These big, tough dogs are one of the oldest breeds in the world, hailing from what is now modern-day Turkey. Anatolian Shepherds are livestock guardians, having spent thousands of years working alongside human shepherds by protecting flocks of sheep. They are...
What Happens to Domestic Rabbits That Are Released Into The Wild?
When I was a kid, my family went on road trips all over the Pacific Northwest during spring and summer breaks. There was always one place we'd stop for lunch if we were in the area; talking with my sister and some Googling revealed this place to be The Eatery at...
Behind the Breed: English Foxhound
English Foxhounds are a fairly rare breed nowadays, ranking near the bottom of the American Kennel Club's popular breed list (188 out of 197!). But despite that, these hounds have a long history as hunting dogs and they're medium in size, standing 23-27 inches at the...
The Importance of Healthy Wetlands, Rivers, Streams, and Creeks
Living in the Pacific Northwest means living with a certain amount of water, particularly rain. November through January are especially wet but average rainfalls do depend on where in the northwest you happen to be. The Great Bear Rainforest and Hoh Rainforest, for...
Giving Tuesday 2021
It’s #GivingTuesday! Here are some wonderful animal welfare and conservation related nonprofits you can support.
Behind the Breed: Domestic Turkey Breeds
Turkeys and Thanksgiving have been synonymous for quite a while now, with the story of the holiday claiming that the bird was eaten at the first Thanksgiving meal (although, the history of the holiday is definitely not the one you learned in school!). Nowadays,...
Winter Holiday Pet Safety
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States! For some, the day is about giving thanks, having a delicious meal, and being around family and friends. If you decide to involve your pets in the festivities, here are some tips on how to keep them safe!
Behind the Breed: Welsh Terriers
These black and tan dogs are true to their terrier name and are spunky dogs full of character. Welsh terriers were originally bred to chase and trap small animals for hunters and still remain the active, fun-loving dog that made them so great as hunting companions....
Pinnipeds of the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is lucky enough to be home to a truly wide array of animals and one such group is the pinniped. These aquatic animals are primarily marine mammals like seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walruses. In the Salish Sea, we're lucky enough to have...
Behind the Breed: Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Klee Kais are adorably wonderful dogs that look just like miniature Huskies! The Klee Kai is a relatively new breed, having only been first developed in the early 1970s, and ancestors include Siberian Huskies and American Eskimo dogs. They do come in three...
Conservation Dogs: How Dogs Use Their Sense of Smell to Help Endangered Species
Dogs are incredible animals. With a heightened sense of smell and millennia of artificial selection, there are so many jobs that dogs can do and one important one is as a conservation canine. This work involves dogs being trained to detect organic and inorganic...
Behind the Breed: Leonbergers
Affectionately known as Leos (or even gentle lions!), these massive dogs were originally developed not as guardian or working dogs but as companion dogs! Leonbergers are social, friendly dogs that love being around their people and definitely need some room to walk...
Horse Hoof Care
Like any animal, caring for a horse is a big responsibility and in addition to making sure they have shelter, appropriate and nutritious food, and medical care, horses also need their hooves taken care of. Like other ungulate mammals, horses have hooves that require a...
Happy Howloween!
NOTE: This post does not constitute any sort of veterinary or medical advice. If your pets eat chocolate or other possibly toxic substances, please immediately contact your vet or local emergency animal hospital! This post is solely educational and a resource for pet...
How to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Wildlife rehabilitation is an incredibly important field, especially with the rise in urban development and the alarming effects of climate change. Between the increasing network of busy roads, growing light pollution, reflective windows of homes and other buildings,...
Behind the Breed: Norwegian Elkhound
This confident, friendly breed was bred to withstand cold weather and to hunt or work for days at a time. Norwegian Elkhounds are spitz-type dogs that look and act very similar to Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Like these other breeds, Elkhounds have an...
Declawing Cats: Worse Than A Manicure
Anyone with a cat can tell you about how annoying and painful their claws can be at times. For some folks, the problem of their cats inappropriately scratching furniture, people, and other things gets to be such an issue that they decide to surgically declaw their...
Behind the Breed: Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a rather iconic dog, especially in their native Japan where they are still an incredibly popular breed and one of the six native breeds to the country. This breed is intelligent, quiet, clean, rather strong-willed, and generally tends to do better as...
Wildlife Corridors and Crossings
For centuries, urban development has created literal barriers to important ecosystems and segmented habitats for wildlife. This is particularly true since the start of the automotive industry and the creation of a large network of roads and highways, a trend that's...
Behind the Breed: Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinchers, also known as Dobies, are fearless, loyal working dogs with sleek, muscular appearances. With a history in Germany, Dobermans have worked in a range of fields and even served as the US Marine Corps' official war dog during World War II. Because of...
Elk of the Pacific Northwest
Elk are one of the largest species in the deer family; they are currently native to North America and eastern Asia but have been introduced to other parts of the world. In the Pacific Northwest, there are two elk subspecies: the Roosevelt elk and the Rocky Mountain...
Behind the Breed: Italian Greyhounds
Greyhounds are an iconic breed known for their fast speeds and slender builds. But did you know there is another greyhound breed? The Italian Greyhound has similar qualities to the greyhound in a smaller package, including their contradictory need for speed and couch...
Working Dogs: What Jobs Do Dogs Have?
Dogs are incredible animals and with thousands of years of selective breeding behind them, dogs today often have traits and instincts that make them great in certain jobs. Over the centuries, dogs have spent a significant amount of time working in agricultural...
Behind the Breed: Welsh and English Springer Spaniels
As two of the 15 different spaniel breeds that the American Kennel Club recognizes, the Welsh and English Springer Spaniels may have similar names, builds, and looks. Welsh springers, also known as Welshies, are a bit smaller than their English counterparts and tend...
Sea Otters.
Sea otters can be found along the coastal areas of the North Pacific Ocean and range from the shores of Japan to the coast of Alaska and all along the coast of North America down to Baja, California. These cute and wonderful creatures have captured the love of many...
Seagulls of the Pacific Northwest
The birds commonly known as seagulls are rather notorious birds, particularly to those living along the coasts of North America. As opportunistic feeders, gulls have been known to eat a variety of things, like aquatic creatures, unattended bird eggs, garbage, and...
What Are Feral Cats And TNR Programs?
Domestic cats have coexisted with humans for thousands of years in a mutually beneficial way. In fact, it's thought that it was that mutually beneficial relationship that lead to cats being domesticated! Mice and rats have long been attracted to the crops and...
Behind the Breed: Bergamasco Sheepdog
Bergamasco sheepdogs might be one of the most interesting-looking dogs out there! With origins in Italy and the Alps, these dogs were bred as guardian dogs and their thick, unique coats help protect them from predators like wolves and bears when they're guarding or...
Duck Duck… Goose?
Domestic and wild waterfowl like ducks and geese are incredible birds that can be found almost all over the world. As waterfowl, both of these birds thrive around freshwater environments and are usually found around lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. The webbed feet of...
Behind the Breed: West Highland White Terrier (Westies)
Also known as Westies, West Highland White Terriers are small but confident dogs with a lively and affectionate nature. These dogs are affectionate and energetic, making them great additions to families and active homes. With plenty of exercise and activity, Westies...
A Horse Is A Horse Of Course Of Course. What Taking Care of A Horse Entails
Taking care of horses can be an incredible hobby and it's something that more than a million folks in the United States do. But having a horse takes time, energy, and money; with these animals having an average lifespan of 25-30 years, owning a horse is often a...
A Murder of Crows and An Unkindness of Ravens
Found throughout North America in a range of ecosystems, American crows and common ravens are similarly-looking birds that are a part of the corvid family. These blackbirds do differ from each other in many ways, like their wingspan, beak curvature, and voice, but...
Behind the Breed: Tibetan Mastiff
These large dogs were originally bred to be guardians of villagers living in the Himalayas and while they look imposing, Tibetan Mastiffs are actually just big balls of love. Like other guardian dogs, Tibetan Mastiffs are devoted to their families and are incredibly...
Why Do Cats Like High Spaces?
If you've ever had cats, you might know just how much they like being high up, even if there's really no room for them. This behavior might be annoying at times, particularly when cats start to knock things over! But being up high is a perfectly natural thing for...
The Importance of Parks and Trees in Urban Areas
With the ever-present threat of the climate crisis, the restoration of ecosystems and protection of public lands and bodies of water is incredibly important. There are numerous health benefits and economic boosts to public parks, as folks living near parks report...
Behind the Breed: Australian Kelpie
Like other herding dogs, the Australian Kelpie is an active, intelligent, and loyal dog with an unlimited source of energy. Kelpies are medium in size, often weighing 30-45 pounds and standing 17-20 inches tall, but what they lack in size, they make up for with...
Bighorn Sheep of the Pacific Northwest
As the biggest wild sheep in North America, bighorn sheep have light brown coats, split hooves, and large horns that indicate their age. In the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain bighorn is one of two subspecies in the area and can be found in the Rocky Mountain...
La Vie En Nose: What You May Not Know About Your Dog’s Nose
There are many amazing things about dogs and their impressive sense of smell is definitely one of them. With up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses (50 times more receptors than humans!), dogs can actually smell some odors in parts per trillion and can...
The Effects Of Wildfires
For the past few years, wildfires along the west coast of the US and Canada have been burning hotter, faster, and longer during the summer months. The National Interagency Fire Center, self-described as the country's support center for wildland firefighting, has a map...
Holistic Pet Care
Caring for yourself and other living creatures can be a lot to handle, which may be why holistic medicine and alternative care treatments are becoming more and more popular. Hydrotherapy, massage, and acupuncture are all part of the holistic care field that can help...
What You Need To Know If You Want Domestic Geese
Backyard chickens have become popular over the last few years and more municipalities have allowed homes to have small flocks! Some folks have even gotten domestic geese and while these birds have a reputation for being mean, there are actually a few great reasons to...
Behind the Breed: Bichon Frise
This peppy, fluffy breed would be a great addition to any family or home, particularly for those with mild dog-related allergies or who want a cheerful, small dog. A Bichon Frise will usually stand 9-12 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 12-18 pounds. Bichons are...
Porcupines of the Pacific Northwest
The North American porcupine is one of the largest rodents on the continent and can be easily recognized by its coat of 30,000+ quills. These mammals can be mostly found in forested areas around Washington state but have been known to thrive in brushy wetlands and...
Five Ways To Give Your Senior Dog The Best Life
Dogs have an unfortunate habit of growing old much faster than humans so if you're a dog person, there are probably going to be a few times where you'll be living with a senior dog. The good news is that senior dogs are just as incredible as their younger selves!...