The ideas that go through a pet owner’s head when they find that their dog or cat has gone missing can be downright torturous. It’s often enough to drive the owner to the local Kinkos so he or she can wallpaper the town with flyers publishing the exact description of the animal and the hefty reward to its finder. However, when a dog goes missing for almost half a decade hopes of a reunion may fade, and 10 cent copies seem like an unnecessary expense.
Dog owner Tom Smith gave up searching for his lost dog after several weeks, but his reward came almost five years later.
Smith’s Patterdale terrier named Scrappy Doo was stolen from his garden in 2004. A devoted pet owner, Smith searched for his hound for weeks before losing hope in a reunion, the Sun reports.
But earlier this week, a more mature, seven-year-old Scrappy Doo was found abandoned in Bournemouth in the UK, just 15 miles from Smith’s house in Wareham.
"I thought I’d never see her again," the 60-year-old pet lover told the news source. "When they bought her back as soon as she saw me she went mad. After all that time you wouldn’t think she’d remember."
According to the Missing Pet Network, about 10 million owned animals wind up in U.S. shelters each year.
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Dog-lover reunited with lost pet after five years
Trump Hotel Collection offers puppy pampering
When Americans take a vacation many look to use their free time completely for relaxation and indulgence, and who could blame them? After laboring for at least 40 hours a week most of the year, some workers need more than a six o’clock cocktail to unwind. While dogs may not put in the long hours that most human do, surely fetching the morning paper and harassing the mailman deserves some kind of reward!
With this in mind, the Trump Hotel Collection has just the gift for owners who wish to offer some luxury pet care to their dutiful dogs.
The company announced this week that it will launch "pet pampering" facilities in its hotels in Chicago, New York and Las Vegas, Luxury Travel Magazine reports.
Canine visitors to Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago can be treated to a room festooned with a plush dog bed, gourmet treats, bottled water and accompanying water bowl, a rubber ball and a room service menu for pooches wishing to dine in.
Cleaning fees for dog rooms can run up to $250, according to the news provider.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, annual costs of caring for cats and dogs can range from $670 to $1,580.
Arizona woman claims to converse with pets
Pet owners typically rely on veterinarians to diagnose and treat issues pertaining to an animal’s physical health. But when frightened cats, lonely dogs and turkeys struck with seasonal anxiety endure emotional pain, one Arizona woman claims to pick up where veterinary medicine leaves off.
Debbie Johnstone, who calls herself an animal whisperer, says she depends on her sight, hearing, smell and taste to read animals’ thoughts, the Arizona Republic reports.
"As a child, I collected stray animals," Johnstone told the news source. "I thought everybody heard them the way I do."
The self-proclaimed animal communicator typically services clients who are dealing with the possibility of euthanizing an animal or those who want to know if a deceased pet has passed on to a better place.
An at-home visit from Johnstone costs $125 per hour, though the specialist can perform sessions over the phone and by e-mail.
Though Johnstone has made a modest business with her niche enterprise, her line of work is not free from judgment.
Arizona veterinarian Dr Gregg Townsley told the news provider that owners are taking a "dangerous risk" when they rely on animal whisperers as an alternative to veterinary services.
The North American Pet Health Insurance Association says veterinary insurance can be used to protect pet health and ensure the financial stability of the animal’s family.
Young entrepreneur lets dogs taste the good life
For whatever reason, dogs seem to want whatever their owners are eating significantly more than the food that is actually in their bowls. But as most pet owners and carpet cleaners know, canines cannot always stomach the foods they desire so much.
Observing this trend, a 16-year-old entrepreneur set out to work in an effort to placate neighborhood dogs who were screaming for ice cream, the New York Times reports.
As a young child spending hot summer afternoons with his grandmother’s dog Max, Christian Liendo remembers the pup whining for lick of the cool treat and relishing any drips that might fall his way.
When the teen enrolled at an entrepreneurial competition sponsored by Goldman Sachs and Prep for Prep, a nonprofit that prepares minority students for private schools, it didn’t take long before these memories began guiding him towards his first business venture.
Blizzard Dog, a frozen concoction of carob powder and soy milk, is the first ice cream made to accommodate a dog’s digestive system. Earning an honorable mention in the competition, Liendo won $250 and the confidence to go public with his invention.
"It’s going to be sold in ice cream stores," the inventor told the news source.
According to Petwave.com, though most pets cannot tolerate dairy products, cheeses and unpasteurized yogurts typically have the lactose content removed, making them safe for pet consumption.
Florida man chooses pet pig over house
Blinded by affection for their animals, owners may be able to overlook their pets’ faults when they occasionally dig into a flowerbed or stain a carpet. However, when town officials complain about the size, smell and danger of the pet, the protests may be difficult to neglect.
Rob Falk of Southwest Ranches, Florida was recently forced to choose between his 300-pound Yorkshire pig and his home, CBS affiliate Channel 4 reports.
Visitors to the rural town, known for its pastoral lifestyle, will see horses trotting on roads and chickens strolling across lawns.
Strawberry the pig, however, was too much for town officials to take. Last week Falk was asked to get rid of the pig or move out.
"They have big tusks that come out of the sides of their mouth. It’s not a pet," town councilman Freddy Fisikelli told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He added, "With that type of pig, the smell would be a problem and you’ve got the problem with danger," as well.
Falk, who considers Strawberry one of his children, told the news source that he and his family will keep their pet and move out of their rental home in Southwest Ranches.
Though considered a bizarre pet choice, pigs are known to be owned by celebrities including George Clooney, Jessica Simpson and Luke Perry.