A kitten's life is all about play ... and play is all about prey. Kittens start to play when they are a few weeks old. If you look closely, you'll notice that you now have an itty-bitty hunter in your house. Learning to play nice Kittens learn to control how hard they bite from their mothers and...

Toby is underweight, with scarred ears and a choppy haircut where severe matts have been cut out. Still, he looks healthier than he did when our Animal Rescue Team first saw him, says Katie DeMent as she sits on the floor petting him at our Maryland care and rehabilitation center in February. On Jan...

Toys are essential to keeping your dog happy and healthy. Get the HSUS's tips on the best and safest toys for your dog. We'll also tell you how to make the most out of your dog's toys.

Contents Plan for your pets Make a disaster kit for pets If you evacuate, take your pet If you stay home, do it safely Pets and wildfires After the emergency Additional resources for equines, livestock and community cats

The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg—most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However...

Do your homework So you’ve decided to add a new pet to your family. First, you should answer some questions: What kind of pet will be the best fit for your household? Do you have enough time to devote to the daily needs of a dog? Is there someone in your household who is allergic? What about a non...

In September 2022, our responders assisted with rescue calls and community outreach in the wake of devastating flooding and destruction in Charlotte County, Florida, after Hurricane Ian.

Bringing a new dog into your life is an exciting event, but it’s also one that can be stressful for both you and your pup until you’ve settled into a routine. It can take days, months or longer for you and your pet to adjust to each other and for your dog to acclimate to your home, especially if...

What is resource guarding? If you’ve ever watched as your pup stands rigid over their favorite toy, staring down any other dog who comes close, you might’ve witnessed resource guarding. The term describes a behavior where a dog attempts to assert their ownership over something: toys, beds, treats, a...

Many animal lovers can point to specific childhood memories that ignited their love for animals. As a teacher, parent or caregiver, you probably want to replicate that experience for the children in your care. As someone who loves animals, you also want to make sure your fun excursion isn’t harming...

Gerbils can be good starter pets for children eight and up and families without a lot of space. They are energetic, usually friendly, seldom bite and love exploring. They aren’t for everyone, though. Here are questions to answer before you decide to get gerbils and tips on how to go about it.

Found in almost every major urban, suburban and rural habitat in the 48 adjoining states, raccoons don't know that our trash cans, vegetable gardens, bird feeders and chimneys aren't for them—they’re just trying to survive. When these clever creatures take advantage of the food and shelter we...

Skunks, easily identifiable by their characteristic black and white striping, are infamous for producing a foul odor when frightened. Although a skunk’s spray is known mostly for its robust smell, it can also cause intense discomfort if it gets into a person or animal’s eyes. People will go to...

The term “roadkill” was coined in the 1940s, according to Merriam-Webster, entering the lexicon alongside “DDT” and other harbingers of a dystopian technological age that runs roughshod over the natural world. In the 1990s, the word became a cheeky insult when a rival called then-House Speaker Newt...

Thanks to widespread pet vaccinations, effective post-exposure treatment and the relative rarity of undetected bites by rabid animals, the number of human deaths from rabies in the United States caused has declined to an average of only one or two per year—far less than the number of human...

Fading yellow leaves fall from tulip trees, settling as quietly as a whisper into piles of gold among the ferns. A catbird calls from a walnut branch, warning competitors away from the pokeberries. A flock of pine siskins descends to the pond, chattering softly as they sip. Young green frogs dive...

Machine-washable items Add a one pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent and wash as usual, air drying if possible. If you can still see or smell the soiling, wash again with an enzymatic cleaner—these break down pet waste odors. If your pet soils the sheets or blankets on a bed, cover...

The process of finding a vet should be similar to selecting your own doctor. You’ll ideally want to seek recommendations from trusted sources and also research the veterinarian (and the clinic) on various criteria to ensure that they best meet your family’s needs and your pet’s individual health...

Somewhere toward the end of the last ice age, we formed an alliance with wolves: Maybe the ancestors of dogs got food scraps while our own ancestors gained protection from predators and other humans. These social species eventually collaborated on a vast scale, possibly even hunting woolly mammoths...

Rabbits can make great pets, but they require a gentle touch, good knowledge of proper care and plenty of attention. Here’s what to consider before adopting a rabbit. Are you in it for the long haul? Healthy rabbits can live for more than 10 years, so a rabbit may be with your family for as long as...