Embrace Pet Community blog

Therapy Pet Week: Making Rounds With Oscar

Many nursing homes and hospice centers are fortunate enough to have cats that serve as residential therapy pets.  Oscar, is one such cat, but he offers a unique service:

From Delta Society Blog:

A few hours before a resident passes away, Oscar climbs onto his or her bed. He purrs and refuses to leave until the patient dies. His predictions are always right—he never lingers unless the person is within a few hours of death. His unusual talent provides an early warning system, giving caregivers precious time to alert family members that their loved one is near the end of life. Steere House residents and their families are grateful to Oscar for the comfort and companionship he provides during this difficult time...

read more or check out Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Don't Lick the Dog

Kids and dogs make a great friends, yet, many children are unsure about how to approach or interact with dogs.  Even adults can misread a dog's body language (a wagging tail doesn't always mean a dog is happy).  We've all seen children react poorly when a dog sniffs or licks them, as little ones may think they're getting ready to bite. 

Author Wendy Wahman has a new storybook, Don't Lick the Dog, for children looking to make friends with dogs.  The book will help children to understand that an excitable dog is not something to fear, and also help them to better interpret dog behaviors and body language.  On the other hand, it teaches children to safely approach and interact with the dogs in their world. 

For ages 3-6, $16.95 at the Best Friends Store. 

The lovely dog featured above is Millie.  She, as well as several other Golden Retrievers, are looking for forever homes through G.R.I.N.  Stop and have a look-maybe you'll find a new best friend?

Paws to Save Pets Giveaway

Paws to Save Pets has raised over $3 Million and helped to save the lives of thousands of pets in just 3 short years.  From their website:

Through educational campaigns, online initiatives, charitable drives and donations, and, most importantly, the time and dedication of volunteers, Paws to Save Pets™ can reach out across America to help make a difference in the lives of companion animals.

(read more)

In celebration of their successful fund raising, Merial is giving away some of their Paws to Save Pets ribbon dog collars  (medium-large size) and a copy of their book, Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health to our readers.  So here's our first Embrace Pet Community Giveaway! 

To enter, just submit a photo of your rescued pet to hello@embracepetcommunity.com, with the e-mail subject "PAWS" and your name and address in the body of the e-mail.  The first three submissions will be awarded the prizes, and have your pet's photo featured in an upcoming blog post.

We can't wait to see the cute pet pictures!