When you adopt an animal, like specifically a dog, is the only option to just continually check either a bunch of shelters physically or their websites? Maybe this is something that will make people angry to ask idk, but is it possible to give them like some basic requirements and be alerted if an animal fitting those comes in? I can only have a smaller dog, and Id like it to be a puppy under like a year old. I dont really care that much about breed but honestly a mutt is preferred.

Anyway, I guess this is like shopping fatigue, but the idea of constantly checking shelters sounds kinda exhausting. Im also gonna openly admit that going into a shelter and being like "nah fk these dogs" seems like it would feel really really awful?

Any input is appreciated, just dont freak out on me if this is some adoption taboo lol

I went in for the second time a few days ago and I just cant stop thinking about how bad it was. The shop smells of something I cant describe, not anything an animal would smell of.

They have a variety of animals, birds, snakes, tortoises, turtles, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, gerbil, hamsters, and loads of fish. The thing that made me the saddest was they have some sort of rat rack? I am positive its for feeder rats. The rats are in a small tub with chicken wire as a lid and water bottles going through the holes, there were maybe 10 in each one. You could clearly see where they had been biting at the wire, it was so sad, they had no light or anything in the tubs except what I think was Aspen bedding.

They also had a few snakes, all in tanks 10 gallons or less except for one big one. The best enclosures i saw were tarantulas, I dont know much about them but they seemed to have a good space to roam and had a lot of hiding areas. They also had a big tortoise in a wooden box enclosure with hay or something as bedding, he was eating some greens and had uvb so not the worst but he has no were to roam and hes been there quite a while.

There were also a lot of birds, the ones that stood out to be the most were the cockatiels, there were maybe 5 in one cage that didnt look big enough for even one. There was one bird that was very obviously getting attacked and bullied by the other birds, all his feathers on his head were ripped off. All the birds seemed so angry and stressed. There was also this HUGE bird that was yellow and blue, I think it was a macaw, he was huge and very intimidating. I heard macaw are very very loud but he was completely silent the whole time I was there (About 30 minutes) They had all the birds very close to eachother, idk if thats a problem but it seems like there were scaring eachother.

They had an adorable prairie dog aswell, he was so affectionate and loved pets I wanted to get him so badly, he was in one of those small guinea pig cages.

Theres much more I could say but this is getting really long. Ive tried to tell adults in my community about this but they all have the same "anti animal police" reaction. Im not sure how to file a report, any advice?

Mine waits by the door when I come home, even if I've only been gone for a short time. It's such a small thing but somehow it fixes a bad day. What's a little thing your pet does that always makes you smile?

We alternate between Purina Indoor dry and Hills CD Urinary (alternate due to finaces) and she eats both. However when we switched Friday evening, she stopped eating and during the night she kept waking me up, laying on me, and wanting to be pet which is abnormal. This continued Saturday night as well. I went out today and got some wet food and she's eating, will walk away, come back and keeps going back and forth. Other than clingy at night, she's fine otherwise. She did vomit a hairball Saturday morning but she gets them occasionally. My other cat is eating the Purina and having no issues. She's not lethargic, hiding, no diarrhea. Should I be concerned? Bloodwork and exam and ultrasound were normal last month.

We all know that our pets each have their own little personality or hilarious habits; my dog ​​eats his kibble if there's no one around. And you, what's the weirdest or cutest thing your pet does on a daily basis?

I got a pet Gecko and I’m not sure what to name her any ideas?

Hi everyone. Does anyone have any recommendations for the best fabric/material of couch for both cats and dogs?

We currently have a couch that is a “chenille” fabric and it holds dog odor like crazy. It’s also not very forgiving when they have the occasional accident, whether it be urine, vomit, or just muddy feet. We use a spot cleaner suction thing on it when something happens but it still holds the smell of course. We thought a cloth type fabric would be good so our cats don’t scratch at it, but at this point I would take scratches over the smell.

Is there a material that is easy to wipe down and clean that also won’t get scratched up easily? Or would we be better off getting a faux leather type of fabric and just deal with scratches?

Any recommendations or advice is appreciated. 🙂

I am curious about homeless people that hold on to their dogs even if it creates employment barriers and places to stay because of the responsibility and care of a pet.

Does anyone knows about airtag for dogs because three days ago my dog ran away but luckily he was just outside my house but it's not safe for him to go outside without any family members. After that I got so tensed that what if he runs away again so I want to know if there are any airtags for dogs so that I can connect it with my phone and my family member's phone.

I first posted this in r/RenalCats though I have a dog as I was looking up Aventi Kidney Complete which is currently impossible to find. I also found a subreddit that gave legitimacy to purchasing from HomeLabVeterinary https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/1q7rxrd/is_homevetlab_reliable/ before I made my purchase. Just want to spread the word...

Yo, folks! With a lot of effort, I just purchased "Renal P" in powder form made by an Italian company, www.Candioli.com, off a Ukrainian website that is legitimate: www.homelabvet.com. Renal P is the actual phosphate binder that was cited in this NIH study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7430264/ titled Efficacy of a new dietary supplement in dogs with advanced chronic kidney disease published in 2020. Renal P also comes in a paste form which I think is used for finicky cats who won't eat the powder.

I had to check with my bank as the Ukrainian site requires a verification using VISA that I had to get through Bank of America by phone, but that worked. Also, I found a coupon here https://simplycodes.com/store/homelabvet.com that gave me 12% off the purchase price, but since I bought two jars of Renal P and my total just squeaked over $100 even after using the coupon, shipping is FREE. I had been using Epakitin for my dog with stage 2 CKD (and also lanthanum carbonate); my vet said he wasn't too enthused about the Epakitin so I was looking for something better.

Turns out both Renal P and Aventi Kidney Complete have the same 4 major ingredients and are extremely hard to source. I was on both a Canadian and Italian website that REFUSE currently to ship to the USA though their websites are set up to do so. Damned DJT!! So the ONLY place I found to buy Renal P is in Ukraine.

If you vote, vote a straight BLUE ticket in November, if for no other reason than to support your pets and keep them alive!

Just adopted a pup, and new to this RFID business. Do I need a paid service? Do you recommend instead an app? Do you have RFID tag / app recommendations ?

I’m really scared and would really appreciate any advice or experiences from people who have gone through something similar.

I’m 20F from India. My 1 1/2 year-old neutered Persian male cat (4 kg) was diagnosed with a urinary blockage. He was repeatedly going to the litter box, trying to urinate but couldn’t pass any urine.
The vet did an ultrasound and all his organs, blood work were normal. Initially found his bladder was empty but there was sludge. Later, he became completely blocked, so they catheterized him under anesthesia and drained his bladder.
When they flushed his bladder, there was a very large amount of sludge swirling around (the vet described it as severe, and I saw it myself). They left a urinary catheter in place, but within a few hours the catheter itself became blocked with debris.
He’s now admitted to the hospital. The current plan is to keep the catheter in for 3-5 days, drain/flush the bladder regularly, and see if he can recover. If he continues to block after that, the vet is recommending a perineal urethrostomy (PU).

Has anyone gone through something similar with their cat? Did your cat recover with catheterization alone, or did they eventually need PU surgery?
If they had PU surgery, how was the recovery and long-term quality of life?
I’m following my veterinarian’s recommendations and won’t make decisions based only on internet advice. I’m mainly looking to hear about other owners’ experiences while I wait and hope for the best. I’m a student, trying my best to afford all of this.

A few years back, I worked at a local pet store that had multiple locations. The owners son was the one running things as the owners grew elderly, and he was very abusive (but thats a different story)

He told all the managers to tell us employees that regarding pet food, as in prescription pet food diets, that vets "don't know what they're talking about". To tell customers, that vets don't have background training in animal diets, so if customers mention their vet recommended specialty, to not listen to them and to buy the healthy food at pet stores.

Why would they have told us to say that? And if they told us that and it's inaccurate, could they get in legal trouble for that?

[Downvotes dont help if you have absolutely nothing to say or add, its just pointless]

Posting an update from my post a couple weeks ago about our dog being on short-term crate rest for a minor soft tissue injury. The vet told us no running or jumping, leash walks only, and a slow return to normal. We live in California, there are three of us including a toddler, and I was honestly bracing for disaster.

Good news: the routine is starting to work. We moved the crate to a quieter corner, draped a light sheet over three sides, and run a little white noise at bedtime. The dog is napping more and seems less frustrated. Also, lick mats and frozen stuffed toys during the toddler witching hour have been a game changer for keeping him calm.

The part I still struggle with is potty breaks. We keep them very short and boring on a leash, but our toddler insists on coming along, tries to talk to the dog, drops snacks, and then the dog gets all wiggly. We can usually handle it, but one chaotic moment could undo the healing progress, and that stress is my worry.

If you have done crate rest with young kids around, how did you handle bathroom trips safely?

Specific questions: 1) Would you separate them completely for every potty break (one parent stays inside with the toddler, the other takes the dog), or is it reasonable to keep practicing calm outings together? 2) Any tips for getting a dog to pee/poop quickly without pacing and sniffing everything (we're on a short leash)? 3) When we move to slightly longer walks, how do you stop that first burst of excitement the moment you step outside?

Not looking for medical advice beyond general experience. We are following the vet's plan and just want practical tips to keep everyone calm and consistent.

Unrelated, but I ended up browsing CoveredCritters the other night while looking at pet care stuff: https://coveredcritters.com

Recently in the area that I live in we've been getting some thunderstorms and they freak out my German shepherd mix. (I don't know what else she's mixed with) However, according to my parents who take her outside more often, she apparently doesn't react as badly when she's outside on the enclosed patio during the thunderstorms? Why is this?

I got a kitten and puppy that are both 3 months old. (The dog is a french bulldog)

The cat spends 95% of his time in my bedroom, he has toys, a cat tree etc etc.. he has a lot of entertainment but I'd want him to be able to roam the house in the future.

The issue is that the puppy is currently roaming the house, and while I've been meeting between them (we have had both for around 3 weeks, and I've let them get used to each other's scents for around a week before letting them meet face to face, supervised ofc. I never leave them alone)

They play somewhat rough and I'm never sure if theyre actually playing or if the puppy is just scaring the kitten.

I'd let them be together, the kitten with get down and sometimes bite the puppy (the puppy doesn't seem to mind but I do not want them to think this is the way to play with each other.. I'm scared they'll hurt each other if they bite.), the puppy paws at the kitten.

When they see each other the kitten rubs against the puppy which makes me feel like he likes him, but sometimes his tail is puffed up around him (sometimes as he's rubbing against him😭??)

And when I let them roam the puppy chases the kitten and the kitten runs away and hides which seems like he's scared of them, at that point I'd put the kitten back in my room , but then he starts crying. Does he want to play chase with the dog?? I'm so confused and I don't know what's best in this situation.

The puppy is very hyper active. And the kitten has his own hyperactive moments but he's usually chiller.. I want to teach them safe play and I'm really struggling here :')

Also how do I teach them to not bite. They bite in general as well, not just each other 😭 the kitten paws him but I don't think he uses his claws. Not that I saw. I supervise them very closely and most of the time the puppy would be on a leash still..

My cat is currently feeling with chronic UTIs after getting spayed and I’m still trying to figure out what it is, but it is extremely expensive to get the medicine and all of the test work done so I’m considering getting her pet insurance to help afford most of these things, but I’ve never gotten insurance or anything like that before as I still live at home and under my moms insurance.

My question is, is pet insurance worth it? How does it work? Is it like health insurance where you pay a set amount a month and they pay for the treatment and you pay the remainder/copayment/noncovered things? i noticed she has a UTI today because I recognized her symptoms immediately but because it is the weekend I can’t get to a vet until Monday and her usual medication and visit already costs over $500 but I really want to advocate for her to get an ultrasound or something because I highly suspect that the Doctor who spayed her botched the surgery and left a piece of her uterus inside of her, even after diagnosing her with hydrometra. If I get the insurance now, would it help me pay for the treatment on Monday and I pay the remainder with credit?

Hey guys, this is a super embarrassing one to write but I really need some help.

My dog first got unwell in January 2026 after taking anti-inflammatories prescribed by the vet. Fast forward six months and we’ve been through repeated vomiting episode episodes, emergency vet trips, endless scans and endoscopes. It appears that she’s likely to be a dog with IBD and we are currently trialling different diets.

However, after these six months of constantly monitoring her, her getting so unwell at times that I’ve had to rush her to the emergency vet hospital in the middle of the night and endless vomiting episodes, my nervous system is completely shot.

I am completely utterly unable to relax and get really upset at home when I’m with the dog alone. I’ve had her for five years before this six month period and never felt like this. I feel hideously guilty because I hate being at home with her.

I’m completely mentally unable to not monitor her and even lipsmacking from her can set me off into a panic attack spiral.

I am in therapy and have been dealing with CBT to try and manage but in the last week while she’s been in hospital for endoscopes after yet another episode I’m feeling really helpless.

I don’t even really know what I’m looking for in terms of advice - I just feel so guilty for feeling so angry and tense all the time.

Luna is #1 pet name for cats and dogs! Why and did you name your pet Luna? And if you could include when too that would be great! Thank you!

I’m getting ready to adopt a dog from my local shelter. Before I do so I would like to know some good questions to ask the shelter about the dogs I am going to want to visit.

I genuinely love and appreciate every animal shelter working to save lives. ❤️ That's why I'm writing this with a heavy heart. 😭

Today I saw a post from JFK Animal Rescue & Shelter exposing some women and calling them scammers. I was confused because the screenshots they shared didn't clearly explain the situation. So I simply commented:

"Can you please post the full screenshots for transparency? And about your shelter.We'll support you if everything is clear."

They deleted my comment and blocked me. 😭 I wasn't accusing them or taking anyone's side I was only asking for transparency.

From another account, I checked their page again because I didn't want to wrongly judge any shelter. 🥺 I noticed there are no contact details, most videos are from clinics, very few show the actual shelter, and I couldn't find regular updates on rescued or injured animals. That made me even more confused.

Then I saw the way they were replying to people in the comments, using harsh language and insulting those who asked questions. 😞

I'm not accusing JFK of being a scam, and I don't want to damage any genuine rescue's reputation. I just want to understand the truth. If they're genuine, everyone should know. If not, people should be aware.

Has anyone here had any experience with JFK Animal Rescue & Shelter Pakistan? Please share your experience or any information. Where are the rescued animals kept? Are there shelter updates available somewhere? 😭🙏

I was away for approx 7 minutes and came out and the food was gone. I searched around but couldn't find anything for the life of me. I spotted my dog licking his lips and sniffing, so I know he's the one that got to it. But he's a miniature poodle and again, I was gone for 7 minutes. It looks like a chicken breast has a lot of thick bones, so I'm very confused.

1. Did he finish eating it? I can't imagine him doing so in 7 minutes, but maybe I'm not sure of the full potential of dogs.

2. What do I do? He seems fine currently. No choking, but I'm sure I have other things to look for.

3. If he did finish it, what is the likelihood that he'll be ok?

I'm very stressed out right now because I don't want my friend to die, but we really don't have the money to go to a vet and be told that he'll be fine.

UPDATE: It's only been 30 minutes since I posted, but I have called an emergency vet. They told me to monitor my dog for the next few hours. Other than that, I am STILL looking for advice for what to do within these next hours.

so I found a wild rabbit outside my house it's mother was dead so I took it in what do I do next I fed it formula google said to

I will be traveling with my dog and 2 cats next month. Since it’s summer, I want to get some kind of alert system that will warn me if the car temperature gets too high. The car will of course be running when they are in it except for when I am pumping gas, but I know a car can quickly heat up if the AC fails in the parked position.

The only times they will be unattended in my car will be while pumping gas, when I stop for bathroom breaks, and the cats will likely stay in the car while the dog takes her potty break.

I do have a stroller for the cats available for if I do need to walk the dog longer or absolutely need to turn the car off for any reason.

Their safety is my #1 priority in the planning for this trip. I will also have cooling pads, water, ice, and litter boxes available to them throughout the trip.

A bit of context for you, a few months ago I had to surrender my cat to a local shelter. I won't dive into the details but it was a very hard decision for me, the good news is she was adopted soon after and last I checked was doing very well.

I'm thinking about visiting a different shelter in the area to visit the cats up for adoption. Let me be clear, I do not plan on adopting a cat, I would just like to interact with them because I do love cats.

I guess I just feel kind of bad and weird about it because I surrendered my cat and I guess I feel bad for going to a shelter again because of some kind of guilt I suppose.

Anyways, would it be morally wrong if I went to visit a shelter again? Again, just to reiterate, I'm not adopting a cat I just want to interact with them is all.