By: Parker Pothier One reason many families are hesitant to try fostering is because they are worried about or afraid of the process of saying goodbye. Specifically, families often worry about how their kids will handle the goodbye and that they will never be able to “let them go.” Though saying goodbye can be hard, I assure you, it is not impossible, and it doesn’t have to be as bad as you think! In fact, I have some great strategies that may help you and your kids prepare for the goodbyes and cope with the grief that comes after your foster pet has moved on to their new home. These are only ..read more

By: Andrea Young We’ve all heard the phrase and we all know the answer. Every pet I’ve had has always come when I’ve needed them. Good times and in bad. They have all had a story, and it’s usually a bad one. People in rescue are like that too.  We are a diverse group with varying upbringings. Some traumatic, some abusive, some neglectful, some spiteful, and some loveless. I was one of the lucky ones until I wasn’t. We lost my eldest son to violence. My world imploded. I had been a single parent and I felt my purpose was no more, or so I thought. I had to start taking care of me. I had a 5 ..read more

One people add a pet to their family, specifically a puppy, a big question is whether or not to use a crate. Some people view crate training as a negative thing, but that shouldn’t be the case. There are many positive benefits for both you and your pet by having your pet crate trained. It makes house training simple One of biggest benefits to crate training, especially a puppy, is it makes house training for your pet much more simple. The first thing pet parents should do when letting their puppy out of their crate is have them go outside right away to pee and or poop. They will learn very qu ..read more

As the weather warms up, that means more time outside with your dog. But, with the warm season, also means the return of something else: ticks. Ticks are found specifically in longer grassy areas and in bushes. Even though many people think of them as insects, they are actually arachnids which are similar to spiders and mites. Ticks are parasites that feed off of the blood the host they attach themselves to. Those hosts can be can a human or an animal. The biggest problem with ticks is that they are carriers of disease, specifically Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be very serious if not treate ..read more

Kaylie Belcourt Is your dog a leash monster? Does your dog walk you instead of you walking your dog? Are you leash training? Do you have a dog who you take on walks? In all of these scenarios, a harness is a much better choice than walking with leash attached to a flat collar. Walking with a harness distributes pressure from pulling over more of the body as opposed to concentrated pressure on your dog’s neck when walking with a leash and flat collar – which can damage your dog’s throat and neck, cause tracheal collapse or even protruding eyeballs. In addition to being physically safer, using ..read more

by Lindsay Herrick-Somerset  With the winter months comes snow, ice, cold, and, this year, a Polar Vortex. Winter can be challenging for any dog owner, especially if you have smaller breeds or any short coat breed dog that does not do well in the cold. It is even more challenging when temperatures drop so low that potty breaks are met with looks of “I have to pee in this?? You can’t be serious.” So, how can you keep your dogs active when the temperature drastically drops? Doggy Daycare While it’s not the cheapest of options, if you have a dog that needs to burn off energy and does not do ..read more

By Kim Barrett With legalization on the horizon, pot talk is everywhere.  In addition to the effects legalization will have on people, there has also  been much discussion about the risks posed dogs to our doggy family. In a recent Facebook post, Tamarack Veterinary Clinic discussed the high occurrences of marijuana overdoses in Edmonton dogs. Coupled with increasing usage of cannabis oil in pets, vets expect recreational legalization to raise the instances of overdoses in pets even more. As is the case in Colorado. A recent study in the state found cases of marijuana toxicity in d ..read more

Hi! Tink here! I’ve been in foster care for a long time.  A VERY long time: 398 days and counting. Can you believe it? I can’t. My foster family can’t figure it out either. Sure, I am very shy and unsure when I first meet someone, which can be a tad off-putting, but once I get to know you I’m the sweetest little loaf you ever did meet.  Just loafing around…. While I’m hanging out, waiting for my forever family to find me, I thought I’d write a little something about myself. When things don’t come you, you have to go out and find it. Amiright?! I’ve come a long way since Zoe’s took ..read more

  By: Kim Barrett Your dog starts choking on a toy… Your cat jumps on a hot burner on the stove… Your dog gets a bad bite on his head while visiting the dog park… Your cat suddenly collapses and is not breathing… While out for a walk your dog has a seizure… If you found yourself and your pet in one of these situations, would you know what to do? It is quite distressing for many of us to imagine such scary situations, let alone live through it. These situations are not planned and how you are able to respond can save your pet’s life. It’s quite obvious that you need to seek immediate med ..read more

By: Kim Barrett Most of us would probably describe our home as our sanctuary. After a long day of work or errands, coming home gives us an opportunity to destress, relax and recharge our batteries for the next day. While household activities can also keep us quite busy, overall home is a welcoming refuge. For some people, however, this is not the reality. Home is not a peaceful or safe space. So many harrowing stories have appeared in the media about violence against women and sexual assaults. Unfortunately, Edmonton is no stranger to violence. The Edmonton police service reported 8715 ev ..read more