Americans’ love for their pets is apparent in dog parks and grooming parlors, on cat videos and pet food price tags. But just how many pets we love is less clear. Google the U.S. pet population, and you’re quickly confronted with two oft-cited, and contradictory, sources. The American Pet Products Association found that 68 percent […]
pets
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Oxford Hills
Animal Tales: Bridgton Books says goodbye to a sweet, gentle cat
BRIDGTON — When Pam and Justin Ward first brought their gray tabby cat to Bridgton Books three years ago, it seemed destined. Sergei — named after Sergei Samsonov, a Boston Bruin’s winger from the mid-2000’s — was not happy at home. The Wards had just moved from their old farmhouse in Bridgton to a new […]
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Posted inPets, sj-web
The Big Number: 6,457,534 animal-related injuries at ERs
It took lions and tigers and bears to frighten the “Wizard of Oz” characters, but today those fears might very well be brought on by spiders, insects, hornets, wasps and bees. They were the source of more than half — 54 percent — of the nearly 6.5 million injuries from the animal kingdom that sent […]
Posted inConnections, Pets, sj-web
A Christmas story from Tommy's Felines
GREENE — The cats and kittens of Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends, just like an orphaned child, have been disappointed year after year with no gifts of joy under their trees. Sadly, because of limited resources there is never enough funding for the toys of joy that bring so much happiness to the hearts of Tommy’s […]
Posted inPets, sj-web
Why do we love pets? An expert explains.
Ours is a pet-loving culture. Researchers spend a lot of time exploring what has become known as “human-animal interactions,” and the pet industry spends a lot of money promoting what it prefers to call the “human-animal bond.” But that concept might have been laughable a century ago, when animals served a more utilitarian role in […]
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The scoop on how your cat’s sandpapery tongue deep cleans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cat lovers know when kitties groom, their tongues are pretty scratchy. Using high-tech scans and some other tricks, scientists are learning how those sandpapery tongues help cats get clean and stay cool. The secret: Tiny hooks that spring up on the tongue — with scoops built in to carry saliva deep into […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Maine veterinarians offer more compassionate ways to euthanize pets
Maine veterinarians are offering more compassionate care and surroundings to make euthanizing cherished pets less traumatic.
Posted inPets, sj-web
More home appliances for pets hitting store shelves in Japan
An increasing number of home appliances for pets are hitting the shelves in Japan, such as cameras that allow owners to watch the adorable actions of their dogs and cats from outside their home. Home appliance makers are beefing up efforts to develop high-quality products, pinning their hopes on an increasing trend of pet owners […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Freeport dog loves leaping into leaves and the internet loves her
FREEPORT — Jumping into piles of leaves is a fun way to celebrate autumn. But for Stella, a yellow Labrador retriever with 153,000 followers on Instagram, it’s a claim to fame. Last week, several news outlets – including The Boston Globe and the Today show – shared video of Stella jumping out of a black car and launching herself into a […]
Posted inOxford Hills, sj-web
Dog's four-year stay at Paris shelter draws national attention
PARIS — Employees at Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills posted a photo on Facebook last week of a white, purebred Staffordshire bull terrier named Ginger with a sign hanging from her neck. The sign read: “I have been in the shelter for 1,456 days. Please adopt me.” The photo was shared thousands of times […]