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Finding a Veterinarian

Finding a Veterinarian

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One of the most vital parts of being a responsible pet owner is having a veterinarian for regular and emergency care. While many of our pets might not love going to the vet, these professionals can help our pets healthy! And while we might do the best we can, there...

Endangered Species Day.

Today is Endangered Species Day, a day dedicated to bringing attention to the fact that all over the world, there are numerous vulnerable or endangered species desperately trying to survive. Animals like giraffes, rhinos, and polar bears are all endangered or...

Yellow Island [Nature Preserve]

Located in the beautiful San Juan Islands, Yellow Island is a one kind nature preserve. This small island is home to over 50 wildflowers, many plants and trees, and visiting wildlife. Owned by The Nature Conservancy since 1971, Yellow Island is a truly wonderful place...

Keeping the Wild In the Wilderness

One of the most amazing parts of the Pacific Northwest, as least in my opinion, is being surrounded by wilderness and forests. Going out into nature is relatively possible all around the region, even in major cities like Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver! Sometimes,...

Blackfish [Review]

Back in 2013, a documentary came out about the orcas that live in captivity and in addition to being immensely popular/controversial, it caused massive ripple effects in the animal captivity industry. Blackfish takes a look at the controversial practices of keeping...

Sunburns in Cats and Dogs.

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Summer is nearly upon us and with a rise of sunny, warm weather, it’s important to know how to keep your pets cool and how to prevent, spot, and/or treat sunburns on our pets! It may seem weird but dogs and cats can get sunburns like us humans and those burns can get...

Rooster’s Bucket List

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Rooster is the kind of dog that defines the phrase "man's best friend". This rescue dog has never met a person he doesn't love and has charmed his way into the hearts of many in my hometown. He's sweet and gentle and does great with kids. He is, by all accounts and in...

A Bucket List For Dogs.

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I fully admit that I cry at a whole lot of things: stories of interspecies friendships, people doing good deeds, if Rooster's looking super cute one day. But one thing that always gets me is people doing bucket list items with their dogs or saying that final goodbye...

Procession of the Species.

Two of the many descriptors you could use for the Pacific Northwest are quirky and passionate. The slogan for Portland, OR, for example, is 'Keep Portland Weird' and there's an entire show slightly exaggerating the weird nature of the city. To protest the planned...

Earth Day 2018!

For the last 48 years, April 22nd has been Earth Day, a worldwide celebration of the planet we call home and a day to work on environmental issues. There are many people all over the world who spend the day doing work like planting trees and other plants, removing...

Can I bring my dog?

With Rooster's severe anxiety, it's hard to leave the house without him. All of my friends and family know that there's always a good chance that I'll have Rooster with me if I come to visit or if we make plans. The good news is that my hometown is pretty dog...

Taking care of pet fish.

For many, goldfish are an easily accessible pet that can be used as a test to see if someone (like a child) is ready for more responsibility. It’s true that relatively speaking, goldfish are easier to take care of than other animals and there seem to be wide spread...

Dealing with injured, sick, or abandoned wildlife

There are many stories of people interacting with wildlife in a disastrous way. There are stories of injuries or even death involved in people taking selfies with animals; for example, an endangered dolphin died after a crowd of people held it on a beach to take...

5 Facts About Grizzly Bears

Recently, US Interior secretary Ryan Zinke announced that he is directing his staff to accelerate the recovery planning process for the grizzlies in the North Cascades to eventually help restore the grizzly back into the area. Because of that decision, here are some...

DOG ADVENTURES: Lake Padden, Bellingham, WA

One of the best things about the Pacific Northwest is that many cities will have parks and trails within city limits. Bellingham, WA is no different and has a plethora of places to walk with your dog! One such place is Lake Padden, a lake that's surrounded by miles of...

5 Facts About Bunnies!

I recently wrote about how you shouldn't give bunnies or chicks as Easter presents without looking into just how much responsibility comes with them. Pet rabbits can be an amazing addition to your family but they also need care of different kinds. If you want to know...

Easter Activities.

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Easter can be an incredibly fun day, as there are so many traditions and spring is often just beginning. Here are some fun things to do with your family, including your pets! Decorate eggs! Did you know that there are ways to dye eggs using all natural ingredients you...

Easter Gifts: What It Really Means to Care for Chickens and Bunnies

With Easter just a few days away, it can be easy to get caught up in all the cute animal babies that exist during this time of the year. Little chicks are incredibly adorable and often times, bunnies are incredibly soft. While it can be tempting to bring home a chick...

5 Facts About Seals!

Did you know? Last Thursday (March 22nd) was International Seal Day! As a belated celebration, here are some fun facts about the seals that call the Pacific Northwest home. [ONE] There are several types of seals and sea lions that call the coasts of and the waters off...

Plastic in Our Oceans

In mid-February this year, the Church of England made the news by recommending that their parishioners give up plastic for Lent. This religious season is one of the most important time for many of the world’s Christians and Catholics and many make sacrifices during...

Releasing Pets Into the Wild

Taking care of a pet of any species is often a long term, intense responsibility and there are so many domesticated animals that live with and depend on humans for day to day life. In this day and age, there are so many animals that are brought to different areas of...

5 Fun Facts About Sheep!

If you asked me just a few years ago if I thought I would spend two+ years caring for some sheep, I would have laughed. But life finds a way and even though Mady and Minnie are at a new home, I'm so thankful to have had time with them. In honor of the time I got to...

Finding the good in the world.

The world can be a scary, scary place. Stories and photos of bombings, shootings, poverty, and more all regularly headline the news and for many, these stories are lived experiences and daily life. There's trauma and pain all around the world but there's also hope and...

Bee Friendly Gardens.

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Spring is right around the corner and with that, there are many people getting their backyard gardens ready for the new season! If you are one of these people and looking for a few new plants, consider getting plants and gardening in a way that will help bees! Many...

5 Fun Facts About Bees!

I’m sure I’m not the only one with a mild fear of bees. I’ve been stung many times before and it’s not a particularly pleasant feeling to say the least. But over the years, I’ve definitely gained a new appreciation for these insects and wanted to share some fun facts...

Taking Photos of Pets

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One of my favorite things to do with the animals I care for is take their photos and my ever-growing collection of cute animal photos is a big part of why I started this project. The animals are incredibly adorable and I love having something tangible to share with...

World Wildlife Day – Big Cats Edition!

Today is the World Wildlife Day! This day officially started after a United Nations General Assembly proclamation in 2014 and March 3rd was chosen because this was the day that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was...

Adopting A Rescue Animal.

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Deciding to get a dog, cat, or another pet is a big decision. You have to think about vet bills, food costs, how much time and attention these animals will need, training, and so much more. But even with all that pets need, it’s still wonderful to have an animal in...

Finding a Lost Pet

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Losing a pet can be stressful, overwhelming, and emotional for everyone involved but sometimes, it does happen. And it can happen for so many reasons: loud noises like fireworks can scare your pet, someone left a door open, part of a fence could be broken, or a gate...

5 Fun Facts About Llamas!

[ONE] Llamas are actually members of the camelid family and are related to camels! It’s thought that the ancestors of llamas made their way to South America around 3 million years ago and were domesticated around 4,000-5,000 years ago by indigenous folks in the...

Zooburbia [review]

This post contains affiliate links that I could make commission off of. All opinions are my own. Zooburbia is a collection of essays that reflect on the environment, wildlife, and our relationships with animals. Tai Moses is a journalist with experience caring for all...

The Way Animals Speak [part one]

Do you ever wish your dog could talk? I regularly do to be honest. But until that special collar from the movie UP is miraculously invented and made widely available, dog and pet owners will just have to survive without knowing exactly what our animals would sound...

5 Fun Facts About Octopuses!

At the Seattle Aquarium, today is the first day of Octopus Week! For the past few years, this aquarium has an entire week dedicated to these cephalopods and will have all sorts of events to celebrate! So for this week’s fun facts corner, I thought I’d share some fun...

Pet Dental Care

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Did you know that February is National Pet Dental Health Month? Taking care of your pet’s teeth is of the upmost importance for so many reasons and their teeth should be checked out by your veterinarian at least once a year to make sure that all is well. Providing...

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14th in many different places around the world. There are many clichés around this romantic day and for couples in love, it can be a wonderful day to celebrate their relationship. While this day centers the love between...

Catfe: Vancouver BC’s Cat Cafe

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Over the years, there’s been a new trend in many cities around the world: cat cafes. These spaces are exactly what you might think: they’re cafes with cats in them. In addition to making coffee, tea, and other treats, these businesses also have cats that walk, play,...

5 Facts About Maine Coon Cats

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ONE: Maine Coon cats are one of the biggest domesticated cats! Female Maine Coon cats can weigh 9 to 16 pounds while males weigh 13 to 18 pounds. They’re not the largest domesticated cat but do join the ranks of Norwegian Forest cats and Ragdolls as some of the...

The Canine Parvovirus [Parvo]

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Every so often, I’ll be writing about some of the most common illnesses within animals. However: I am not a veterinarian or vet tech nor do I have any professional experience in animal medical care. Everything below comes from research I’ve done. If you’re worried...

Pets in Poverty.

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During one summer in college, I interned at an interfaith organization that provided a food pantry in a Portland neighborhood. For my entire life, my family never struggled with getting food on the table. We weren’t the richest of the rich but we were still...

5 Fun Facts About Golden Retrievers

Golden retrievers are wonderful and incredibly sweet dogs. Milo is just one of the many pups celebrating National Golden Retriever Day today and to honor this breed, here are some fun facts about goldens! ONE: Golden Retrievers are naturally great swimmers and are...

4 animals that live in wetlands – #WorldWetlandsDay

Today is World Wetlands Day! These areas provide a myriad of functions to the environment around them, including filtering and storing water (much in the way that kidneys do for us!), collecting flood waters, and providing a habitat to a large number of wildlife and...

A Dog’s Life [Nature of Things] (Review)

Recently, I decided on watch a dog documentary and stumbled upon A Dog’s Life (2004) on Netflix. This short film is actually a part of a series from CBC called ‘The Nature of Things’ and is hosted by David Suzuki. It’s about 45 minutes in length and takes a look at...

Animal Enrichment.

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Like people, animals of all kinds can get bored, especially if they’re domesticated or in captivity. Boredom can manifest in different ways for different animals and can result in some unwanted behavior. But there are some fun ways to keep animals engaged and...

Farm Sanctuaries of the Pacific Northwest.

After Shasta died, my neighbor and I had a conversation about what we should do with the sheep. We knew that they would have the best life with another flock and without their guardian llama at the property, it was going to be best if they went to another property. My...

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