I should have known this Hollywood version of the human-animal bond would come up lame.

On the cover of the DVD, a treacly Marley-as-a-pup pic spoke exactly to the kind of movie I was about to consume: one so heart-strummingly sanitized that even the puppy’s infantile “willy” was airbrushed out––apparently so as not to offend my delicate American sensibilities.

Things devolved from...

Sure, you can buy an iPhone because it looks cool to whip out your sleek black beauty in public, because it means all your iPod’s songs can live on your phone, too...or you can keep one for all the cool pet-related apps that come with it. 

IMO the main reason to invest in an iPhone has always been the apps. I’m a Mac user so it’s always held more of a romantic and practical appeal for me. But...

Today’ post is inspired by Tripawds.com and Maverick's Story, two pet health sites dedicated to a couple of individual dogs and their diseases. 

Tripawds is all about Jerry, an osteosarcoma patient who lived well after amputation. But it’s also about all the other pets who may lose limbs, live with cancer and survive their diseases comfortably with the assistance of their humans. 

It’s a...

I couldn’t pick a more incendiary topic for a Monday. Even if I recycled last week’s Cesar Millan post, condemned a breed of dogs, and picked on the HSUS––all in one post––it still wouldn’t raise hackles any more than the opinion piece Paul Greenberg put out in the NYT yesterday. Well...at least not my hackles. 

Titled, “Cat Got Your Fish?,” it starts with a sad story:

“My cat Coco died...

You’re so unsure. And that’s an understatement. You know it’s time...but then you really don’t...perhaps you think you could never be sure. After all, it’s a life you’re taking into your own hands...your beloved life...the one you raised, shared so much with and adored unconditionally throughout. 

You need time. But do we veterinarians always give you a chance to reflect carefully on your...

Remember my ugly hen? Well, it seems she’s got a back story to her. The upshot? Her name’s not Chicken Little...it’s Elsita. 

Since I know some of you enjoy following the story of my goats (who are hoofing it up in their efforts at biological deforestation of my previously jungly back yard), I figure you might like to get occasional notes on the progress of my back yard flock and...

OK, so that’s another one of my salacious titles. You’re not really going to profit––not financially, anyhow––from trapping backyard strays and local ferals. You will, however, entertain yourself while attacking your neighborhood’s stray cat epidemic in a satisfying way.

No longer will you be one among the whining minions clamoring for better municipal animal control. No, you’ll be...

On this Valentine’s Day I have a special idea in mind. Here's some background in advance...

While in veterinary school, my class was lucky enough to enter clinics (late third year and all of fourth year) with a veterinary social worker's omnipresence as part of the curriculum. 

As a group, my class (as many before it, I’m sure) entered clinics considering this ageless woman a tad creepy...

Will it be on the blanket-topped, stainless steel table, surrounded by friends and family? Or will it be a quiet affair with your veterinarian...in your back yard?

An increasing number of pet owners are beginning to realize they have a choice in the matter. Many veterinarians will do house calls for euthanasia...if you ask. At-home euthanasia services (practitioners who dedicate their...

Your cat’s been diagnosed with diabetes...or your dog with Addison’s disease. As much as your veterinarian explains the situation, issues handouts and takes your wigged out phone calls, there’s only so much you can glean from any one mind. You need more. 

That’s when you take to the surf, cavorting about the waves of websites chock full of information. But how do you know the information...