June 2025
It's never too early to plan how to celebrate National Dog Day coming up on August 26. The day was started in 2004 by animal behaviorist Colleen Paige who wanted to raise awareness about animal abuse and to help animal charities.
Not all tail wagging is alike, according to Professor Andrew Huberman at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Dr. Karolina Westlund at the University of Stockholm. A tail wagging on the left-hand side of a dog's body might reflect a negative emotional state, while wagging on the right side might reflect a happy state. And sometimes a dog may be dispersing their own scent with a wag of the tail.
Coprophagia is the act of a dog or other animal eating poop. Although mainly a behavioral issue, it may occur because of a change in diet or due to a medical condition. The best treatment is to prevent access to poop and consult a veterinarian.
Salty and Roselle were two guide dogs who led their owners to safety during the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Salty (December 12, 1996 – March 28, 2008) helped owner Omar Rivera escape from the 71st floor of Tower 1. Roselle (March 12, 1998 – June 26, 2011) helped owner Michael Hingson and 30 other people escape from the 78th floor of Tower 1.
Jade, who has gained fame as The Vet Nurse on TikTok, warns dog owners not to play fetch with sticks. Depending on how the stick lands or is caught, it could puncture a dog's mouth or result in nasty splinters, she says.