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Illinois zoo announces birth of Amur leopard cubs, among the world's rarest big cats
Two Amur leopards, members of an endangered species, were born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago on July 14, the zoo announced Tuesday.
Zoo officials say both cubs and Mina, the 8-year-old first-time mother, appear to be healthy and are being kept in a private habitat in the zoo.
The cubs’ father, Sasha, was born at Brookfield Zoo in 2020. Mina ...Read more

How do you know when it's the right time to say goodbye to a beloved dog?
Mazie was my sweet girl, a jaunty caramel-colored spaniel with bulgy brown eyes that radiated love, even in her final days when she fell almost every time she tried to stand.
At least, that's the version I want to believe. But since Mazie died on April 29, I've talked to veterinarians who say our dog and cat companions don't show pain the way ...Read more

Jam-packed NYC animal shelters get $1 million boost from Mayor Adams
NEW YORK — City animal shelters, bursting at the seams because of an unprecedented influx of animals, have been given an additional $1 million from the city to tackle their critical capacity issues, The New York Daily News has learned.
“My commitment to serving all New Yorkers truly means ALL!” New York City Mayor Eric Adams wrote on his ...Read more
Ask The Vet: Many Ways to Relieve Dog's Separation Anxiety
Q: My dog Clyde takes medication for his separation anxiety, but it's getting worse as I transition from working at home during the pandemic to spending more time away at the office. Would it help if I found him a canine buddy?
A: A second dog usually doesn't help in situations like this. In fact, Clyde may even teach the new dog to be anxious....Read more

My Pet World: Dachshunds who won’t go potty outside and feral cats in limbo
Dear Cathy,
Some friends of mine have two dachshunds. They are no longer puppies and still potty in the house. The owners say dachshunds cannot be trained. I don't believe it. What recommendation do you have for this situation?
— Colleen, Missoula, Montana
Dear Colleen,
Well, I have heard this many times from dachshund owners over the ...Read more

My Pet World: When your semi-feral cat brings you 'gifts'
Dear Cathy,
About four years ago, we started domesticating a young cat we named Grey. We installed a cat door with a plastic flap and placed a barrier over it at night. Grey comes in to eat and sleep and sometimes spends the night indoors. While she would occasionally bring in a dead mouse or bird, this spring the hunting has ramped up.
What ...Read more

My Pet World: Helping pets helps people, especially in times of crisis
As a syndicated pet columnist, I usually spend my time writing about everyday animal issues – litter box avoidance, anxious pups, and barking dogs.
But this week, I’m writing as a resident of Kerrville, Texas.
My hometown is grieving. A catastrophic flood tore through our community, claiming the lives of young girls at a summer camp, ...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

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

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