As one of the newest breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Mudi seems like a mix between a Miniature Poodle and German Shepherd, both in temperament and appearance. This breed has origins in Hungary, where most of these dogs currently live, and has worked...
Throughout history, humans have domesticated many different plant and animal species for a variety of different reasons. Cotton has been used for fabric (like clothing and rugs) and rope; wheat, lentils, rice, and potatoes are some of the first domesticated plants...
Also known as the Blue Gascony Basset, the Basset Blue de Gascogne is a small scent hound that is rarely seen outside its native France. While recognized by the United Kennel Club in the United States and by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in Belgium, this...
While generally mild, the winter weather in the Pacific Northwest can include everything from overcast skies and 45°f, pouring rain and floods, a significant amount of snow and ice, and everything in between. Surviving the winter with animals can, unfortunately, mean...
The last two years have been difficult, to say the least. For me, this site has been a saving grace and on some days, a reason to get out of bed. That's been particularly true during the Covid pandemic. It's been an absolute joy learning and sharing about all the...
The Pacific Northwest is lucky enough to have many different types of wild animals, including several different types of wild rabbits! One of the smallest and most endangered wild rabbit populations is actually the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits. These rabbits are tiny,...
Working in the animal welfare realm is a wonderful, heartbreaking, terrific, and sometimes maddening experience. You get to help, in some form or another, so many animals in so many different ways. The adoption success stories are so joyful, with families becoming a...
Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be a bit difficult to deal with at times, as this season brings longer nights, overcast days, and cold, wet weather. Flora and fauna species alike have developed adaptations and survival mechanisms to get through this time of year....
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...
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...
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...
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...
The past almost two years have been tumultuous, overwhelming, and so many other things. Globally, Covid-19 cases have risen to more than 250,000,000 confirmed cases and over 5,000,000 deaths. The pandemic and subsequent shutdowns have resulted in a weird uncertainty,...
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,...
Many major winter holidays are officially here for North America and while these celebrations can be a great way to get through the darkest part of the year, it is important to keep your pets safe during all the festivities. There are, sadly, plenty of foods in...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...