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Puppy Care Basics: Top Tips for When Your Puppy is Attacked

If you have a new puppy, one of your worst fears may be that it is attacked by another animal. It’s one of those fears that we all have when we first get a new puppy. We’ve heard about and seen other attacks, so it’s very much in the realm of possibilities. Fortunately, there are some important tips that you should consider, so you can protect your puppy. 

What Are the Signs of Attack?

Your puppy will probably appear to be an easy target to dogs and other animals, but if you pay attention, you may just notice the signs, and be able to remove yourself and your pet form the situation. You may notice the following signs:

  • Snarling
  • Barking
  • Growling
  • Baring teeth

You should be aware of your surroundings any time you’re outside playing with, walking, or in other ways interacting with your puppy. So, at the first sign of aggressive behavior by another animal, take immediate action. If that behavior is directed specifically at your puppy, this is typically a good time to pick your puppy up and put yourself between you and the other animal. 

You can also mitigate the circumstances by avoiding areas like dog parks where you know there may be dangerous animals or aggressive dogs, particularly when your dog is still so young. There are plenty of ways to give your puppy the social interaction and the exercise they need without putting them in a bad situation. 

Stay Calm & Collective

You should be aware of your surroundings, but you must also stay calm both before and after the attack. When you are calm and collected, you may be able to pull the animals apart, ask for help from others who are close by, and even add a level-headed approach to the situation.

When you are calm and collected, you can also assert your authority over the other animal. It doesn’t always work, particularly if the other animal already sees you as a threat or challenge.

  • Speak with conviction and command.
  • Watch your body language.
  • Stand tall and avoid submissive postures. 

The best strategy is still to remove yourself and your puppy from the situation by making a quick exit. While you’re edging away, though, you can (hopefully) avoid being bitten or attacked. 

Emotional Support

Your first thought is to protect your puppy and get you and the puppy away from the situation. Your next thought should be to offer emotional support to your puppy. Check to make sure that your puppy really is physically ok. Are there bite marks? Bruising? Limping? Is the puppy whimpering? 

If you’re concerned about the well-being of your puppy, take your little one to the veterinarian. They will perform a full exam and may recommend additional tests or scans to make sure everything is ok. The vet may also recommend that you monitor your puppy over the next few days. 

Gather Information

Don’t forget to talk to the other owner(s). It’s not typically helpful to confront or accuse the other person(s). Remain calm, and ask for contact information. Take pictures, and jot down (or record) details about what happened, what the dog looks like (breed if you know it), and any previous history about the animal. For example, if you know or if the owner mentions that the animal has attacked other dogs in the past, it shows a pattern of aggressive behavior. Take note of the date, time, and any other information that’s related to the incident. 

If your puppy is in good health, you may never need to remember the details of the attack or potential incident. But, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If the owner of the other animal claims that you’re at fault, you need as much information as you can get to describe what really happened. 

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Brothers Rent Billboard and Start TikTok Account to Help Their Brother Find Love

Kevin Wells

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When 34-year-old Chris Cooke told his siblings he might give up on finding “the one,” his twin brother Henry and younger brother Jamie decided to step in and help. They launched the “Find Chris Love” campaign, complete with a dedicated TikTok account and even a billboard, to help Chris find the love of his life.

“Chris is an awesome guy. He’s smart, funny, charismatic, outgoing, and handsome, of course, but he doesn’t always have the best luck in the romance department, so we figured we’d step in and see if we could help him out,” said Henry and Jamie Cooke.

The brothers went all out with their campaign. They created car magnets to spread the word around their Colorado community and set up online dating profiles for Chris, all without his knowledge. They gave themselves 30 days to find Chris a match.

For those interested in knowing more about Chris, Henry and Jamie shared that he is about 6 feet 4 inches tall, enjoys running half marathons, and was a ballroom dance teacher in New York before moving to Colorado. They described him as “smart, loyal, and a blast to be around.”

The “Find Chris Love” TikTok account is gaining traction quickly, with thousands of likes and at least 180 followers in just three weeks.

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Woman Finds New Purpose Helping Hedgehogs

Jess

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Kitty Johnson was worried about feeling lonely when her son left for college. So, she found an unusual hobby – rescuing hedgehogs!

It all started in May 2023 when Kitty got a call about a sick hedgehog in a park. She rushed out with gloves and a box, found the little animal, and took it to a sanctuary. The hedgehog lived, and Kitty felt great about helping.

Kitty always loved nature, but she didn’t know much about hedgehogs before. She joined a group that helps these spiky creatures because she wanted to stay busy when her son went to college.

At first, Kitty answered phone calls about hedgehogs. But she wanted to be more active, so she became a “hedgehog driver.” Now she goes all over her town looking for hedgehogs that need help. She finds them in gardens, graveyards, and even compost bins!

In one year, Kitty has saved about 30 hedgehogs. Some were hurt or sick and needed to go to the vet. Others were babies left alone by their moms. Kitty says, “They’re not just cute but they’re also amazing animals, native to our country, that need protecting.”

Kitty made her own garden safe for hedgehogs. She put out food for them and made holes in her fence so they can travel through. She even has a camera to watch them!

Now Kitty is writing a book about hedgehogs. She says helping these animals makes her feel good and keeps her busy. Even though her son is away at school, Kitty found a new way to feel useful and happy.

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From Streets to Home: A Dog’s Remarkable Transformation

Renee Yates

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In a heartwarming tale that underscores the transformative power of love, a once “sad little street dog” found a forever home, dramatically altering its life for the better.

Initially discovered by an animal rescue center, the stray dog was in poor condition, with matted and dirty fur, and a noticeable wariness of humans. Its future seemed uncertain until a woman, moved by photographs she saw on Facebook, decided to adopt the little pooch.

The adoption marked a turning point in the dog’s life. Fast forward three months, and the shy, forlorn street dog has become a lively and joyful house pet. Photos shared by the new owner on Reddit capture this incredible journey, showing the dog happily playing in a grassy yard, grinning widely, and enjoying the company of a furry friend and a cozy bed.

The Reddit post, titled “From sad little street dog to happy housepet in three months,” quickly resonated with the community, garnering over 1,200 upvotes and a slew of positive comments. One user remarked, “So adorable. Thank you for taking care of him and giving him a lovely home and family.” Another noted, “He’s got such a personality! Shines through the photos. Thank you for saving him.” A third added, “Aww. What a darling. Glad you were there to take this honeyface in and give him the love that all the sweet pups deserve.”

The story also sheds light on the broader issue of homeless dogs. According to Dogster, around 100,000 canines are currently homeless in the UK. This poignant transformation underscores the profound impact that adopting a homeless pet can have, not just on the animal but also on the adopter. The woman who adopted the dog shared her feelings, saying, “He has done so much for us! He’s so sweet and easy to love, and he has completed our first dog’s life by being a patient and gentle best friend towards her (she can be very clingy)… It’s been awesome getting to know him and getting to see him get to be a puppy!”

This touching narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the difference a loving home can make, encouraging more people to consider adopting homeless animals. The joy and fulfillment that come with giving a pet a second chance are immeasurable, benefiting both the animal and its new family.

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High School President Expresses Gratitude with Personal Touch

Kevin Wells

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A high school class president in Massachusetts, showing a remarkable sense of appreciation, decided to honor each of his fellow graduates with personal thank-you notes. This touching gesture took center stage at their commencement ceremony.

Mason Macuch, the class president of Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, MA , delivered a speech on June 7, where he revealed his thoughtful plan. “I wish I could’ve acknowledged you all, but there was simply not enough time,” he said. “Instead, I want you to reach under your chairs, where you will find a personal note that I’ve written to each of you as a way to say one final goodbye and thank you for making these years that will soon pass the ‘good ole days.’”

Under the chairs, the graduating seniors discovered 5-by-7-inch white cards, each containing a heartfelt message. Macuch had spent about 10 hours crafting these notes, a labor of love that reflected his connections with many of his classmates. “I just wrote anything from farewell messages to little memories that I had with whoever I was writing to, or maybe if it was a close friend, a longer message to them,” Macuch explained. “Anything that I could think of about the person I wanted to say about them before we graduated and went on our separate ways.”

The initiative required the approval of school administrators, and on the day of the ceremony, Macuch, along with an assistant principal and a teacher, arrived early to tape the cards under the chairs. His effort did not go unnoticed; many graduates thanked him personally, and parents expressed their appreciation through social media.

Macuch’s act of kindness was not just a farewell; it was a testament to the bonds formed over the years. “Some people I hadn’t talked to in a few years were just so thankful for them. It was really nice to see that they were just so appreciative of all the hard work that went into them, and it was a really nice way to say goodbye to everyone,” he reflected.

As he prepares to start college in the fall, with plans to study biochemistry, Macuch’s gesture serves as a lasting reminder of the power of gratitude and personal connection. His mother’s advice on writing thank-you notes undoubtedly played a significant role in this memorable act of appreciation.

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Cat Reunited with Owner 12 Years After Disappearing: ‘Didn’t Feel Real’

Kevin Wells

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A family that had lost hope of ever seeing their cat again received surprising news recently. After 12 long years, their cat, Artie, has been reunited with its owner.

Artie disappeared from the home of Theo-Will McKenna, 29, after the family moved from Blacon in Chester to Connah’s Quay in Flintshire, Wales, back in 2012. McKenna, who was 17 at the time, spent six months searching for Artie, but eventually, the family lost hope.

Then, just three weeks ago, Artie was discovered after spending four days in a garden close to where the family used to live in Connah’s Quay.

“I hadn’t been able to take him with me when I moved out, and my mom moved to Connah’s Quay with him, my brother, and our other pets,” McKenna explained. “I was in college in the area, so I’d pop back to visit once a week or so.” One day, when McKenna was visiting home, his mom reported that Artie was missing. “He hadn’t come back in a couple of days — and he’d never done that before. He used to come back every night.”

McKenna immediately went out to look for Artie, walking around the entire area with a bag full of treats but found nothing. He kept an eye out for Artie every time he was in the area, but there was no sign of him. “After about six months, I lost hope. I reached the point where I thought that either, God forbid, something had happened to him, or someone else had taken him in.”

Residents at the home where Artie was found took him to the vet, who discovered a microchip registered to McKenna’s mom, with a contact number for North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR). NCAR picked up Artie and shared a post on Facebook to find his owners. A friend saw the post and recognized Artie, sending it to McKenna.

McKenna explained that Artie showed up in someone’s garden near where his mom had lived in Connah’s Quay. Artie stayed there for four days, not leaving at all. The vet’s office scanned Artie’s microchip and saw that it was still registered to McKenna’s mom at their old address. When they found out that she no longer lived there, they reached out to NCAR, who reclaimed Artie from the vet.

Artie had some medical issues that needed attention. He had some teeth removed, treatment for hyperthyroidism, and had precancerous lumps removed from his ears. NCAR got him stable and then posted about him on their Facebook page. “My friend saw it and sent me the post — it took me a second to recognize him because he looked so bedraggled and skinny,” McKenna said. “It didn’t feel real. I thought there was no way it could be him. It had been 12 years — he went missing when I was 17. I thought no cat could survive 12 years on the street.”

Once McKenna picked up Artie, he took him home to his current apartment, where Artie is now getting used to living with McKenna’s other cat. “We’re still in the trial period, but he’s been completely fine. He’s purring up a storm every time I go near him. My other cat has been a little bit wary, but we’ve been doing introductory methods and getting her used to his smell. It’s a slow process, but I’m absolutely determined that he’s staying with me.”

McKenna believes that people must have been looking after Artie over the years, putting out food or taking him in. “I don’t think he would have made it 12 years without community kindness.”

Artie is now 16 years old and will need ongoing medical care, with his medicine costing about $64 per month. McKenna has started a fundraiser online to help with the cat’s medical expenses. “I want him to be able to spend his twilight years somewhere that he’s loved — which will be here,” he said.

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