Archive

The Dog Days of Summer refers to the time of year when Sirius (the dog star) rises with the sun, and this time period is often thought of as the hottest part of the year.  For many people, it’s a season with lots to do outside, from frisbee throwing and beach visits to hiking and camping. Many of […]

Simply considered, empathy describes a person’s capacity to sense and imagine how others feel.  Empathy is central to developing moral reasoning skills and contributes to one’s capacity for moral understanding.  As such, empathy is at the center of many new studies on compassion for its value as a basic “building block of morality.” Empathy: a building block […]

With summer gardening projects nearby, it’s spring planning season.  That’s the perfect time to “take 5” to remember what items are best kept away from companion animals.  Many common products, plants, and garden supplies are toxic to animals.  While many resources are available identifying various household products and foods that are hazardous to animals, while not […]

New research confirms something that may be unsurprising to the avid dog lover:  bonding with furry best friends is a two-way street.  How?  Eye contact. The study shows that returning Fido’s hopeful gaze is comparable to gazing into the eyes of a newborn, which releases the hormone oxytocin.  Known as one of the “happy hormones” […]

Animal rescue groups largely function independently at the  community level.  The animal rescue movement has no national tracking standards in place, so it can be challenging to calculate how many unwanted animals are part of the shelter system. However, looking at the real numbers makes an important case for searching shelters for furry additions.   ASPCA and […]