Jackson and his wife noticed that Peaches’ cat health was deteriorating when the pet stopped eating and began breathing irregularly.
Unfortunately, the Jacksons had to make the painful decision to have Peaches euthanized, according to PeoplePets.com.
But instead, on the way to the vet, the beloved feline died in Jackson’s arms.
After Jackson requested an autopsy, veterinarians discovered that Peaches had a large tumor resulting from malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Although medical tests later revealed that Jackson’s wife was healthy, Jackson was diagnosed with cancer on his left lung. While doctors determined that this was not necessarily related to the asbestos problem, Jackson claims that had Peaches not received an autopsy, he would never have checked on his own health.
"She saved my life," Jackson said, "If it wasn’t for Peaches, I probably wouldn’t be here."
For some individuals, a pet is as much of a constant companion as a significant other – at least that’s what Desperate Housewives star, Teri Hatcher, says.
Hatcher recently added to her brood of rescue dogs by opting to take in an American Bulldog, according to PeoplePets.com. While Hatcher already has three other rescue dogs, she admits to the news provider that she has a special affection for her newest addition.
"I have an American bulldog that’s my most recent rescue: Jack, also known as my boyfriend," Hatcher said.
The actress also revealed that she has been an avid animal rescuer since 7th grade, and that if she wasn’t an actress, she always dreamed about being on the show, Stupid Pet Tricks.
Although it’s clear that Hatcher is an animal lover that bestows proper pet care to her furry friends, she said that she’s done adopting for a while, telling the website, "I think I’m legally at my limit, honestly."
According to iCelebz.com, Hatcher also has three cats, a rabbit, two birds and a horse at her home.
While many pet owners provide pet care to ensure their animals are happy and safe, many do not realize that their furry friends have their back as well.
Jake Vernon is wheelchair-bound due to an accident that happened a decade ago. While he lay in bed on St. Patrick’s Day, he noticed his Pit Bull, Gracie, would not stop barking, according to PeoplePets.com.
He had previously taken medication to help with a broken leg he had suffered during a mishap, and Vernon was still pretty groggy when Gracie tried to wake him. Upon opening his eyes, Vernon discovered that his room was on fire and Gracie had been trying alert him.
As he scrambled into his wheelchair and tried to make it out the backdoor, Gracie stayed with him the entire time, trying to protect him from the fire. Upon getting out of the house safely, Vernon noticed everyone’s adoration for his beloved Gracie.
"I was seeing a big firefighter, 6-foot-6, and he got down on his hands and knees and hugged that dog with everything he had and he kept saying, ‘This this is the best animal in the world,’ " he told PeoplePets.com.
The Iditarod recently ended when the 55th racer reached Nome, Alaska, capping one of the most famous dog sled races in the world.
Although one dog had gone missing for a few days during the trek around Alaska, it’s been reported that no dogs died during the 1,100 mile race, according to The New York Times. This is great news for the race, as it appears that dog deaths have become synonymous with the event.
Chief race veterinarian Stuart Nelson told the news provider that he could not remember a race without a dog death since he became involved in the event. Approximately 1,100 dogs participate in the two week race.
While the economy has caused many individuals to tighten their purse strings as a means of saving some cash, others are still looking to make sure they and their loved ones enjoy a lavish life – including their pets.
Pet owners are still spending the big bucks to ensure that their furry companions are taken care of and happy, according to IndyStar.com. Some pet owners told the news provider that they spend as much as $300 per month on their pets.
According to the news provider, while other retail industries are feeling strains from the economic recession, pet care sales remain stable.
Some industry insiders attribute people’s love for their pets as the reason that they continue to splurge on them.
"As times have gotten tough and scary for people, pets are where people find comfort and solace," Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association, told the news provider. "Pets don’t have bad days. They can’t tell you a sad story. They are just there saying, ‘Let’s play.’"
According to BusinessWeek, Americans spend approximately $41 billion on their pets each year.
