- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Welcome to the Rover Roundup, your one-stop tour of all the weird, wonderful, must-read pet news that crossed our social feeds and made the headlines recently. What’s better than all this heartwarming pet-centric content in one handy place? We can think of literally nothing.
See how well you followed pets in the news as we review the month’s biggest blips about pets, people, and how we live together today.
1. Shelters = Cleared
On Saturday, August 27, the Anti-Cruelty Society (ACS) in Chicago, a non-profit working to help animals find their homes since 1899, was one of the hundreds of rescues across the country that participated in the Clear the Shelters campaign. The annual campaign helps animal shelters across the country host adoption events to make room for more incoming pets.
The organization found homes for 100 deserving pets.
“Our goal was to clear our shelters out completely to make room for countless more animals in need,” said Rachel Klousnitzer, ACS Director of Marketing and Communications. “Animal shelters nationwide are facing overcrowding and overpopulation, so this year is extra meaningful because so many of these animals have been with the Anti-Cruelty Society for long periods of time. We want to help them find their forever family and start their new lives outside of our shelter.”
Here’s to many more happy endings like this one.
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2. Incognito Bandito
When Mississippi resident Fred Everitt rescued his calico cat in 2018, he had no idea that she would one day assist in rescuing him. Bandit reportedly woke Everitt in the middle of the night to alert him that two men were attempting to break into his house. Fortunately, Everitt’s appearance scared them away, but he attributes this to Bandit’s warning!
3. Veterans With PTSD Benefit From Service dogs
A new study helps support existing evidence that veterans with service dogs have lower symptoms of PTSD. The research revealed that many of these individuals spend up to 82% of their time with their service dog, resulting in a relationship that can reduce anxiety and help initiate social connections. This video by The Pet Effect depicts that special bond.
4. Pets Are Individuals—Not Things
If you’re reading this blog, you probably see your beloved pet as part of the family. Rover blogger Jen Chesak explored the idea in a story about pet pronouns, the ways pets and animals appear in our everyday expressions and idioms, and the agency it offers them in our human-centered world. Read about in in her piece, “Pets May Be the New Babies But Should You Treat Them Like People?”
From @mmeowmmia: “Long jump challenge with Jerrie 🐾 Mia at the end🙈🤣hahaha” #catsofinstagram pic.twitter.com/iGZ06Mmdz0
— Cats of Instagram (@catsofinstagram) August 17, 2022
5. Meowssion Impossible
These two cats are taking on their human’s “long jump challenge” in two different ways. We respect both methods to the madness…
6. Pets Can Get Monkeypox
When a Greyhound tested positive after his human parents contracted the virus, the CDC has determined the virus can spread both from human to animal and animal to human. The CDC is advising that “people with monkeypox should avoid contact with animals, including pets, domestic animals, and wildlife to prevent spreading the virus.”
Courtesy photo
7. It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…It’s an Animal-Saving Drone
With his infrared drone, animal activist Doug Thron has traveled around the world to areas of conflict and natural disaster to rescue animals in need. Read about his work and his TV show, “Doug to the Rescue,” in Jennifer Billock’s story, “Drone Pilot Travels the Globe to Rescue Animal Victims of War and Disaster.”
8. Tears of Joy?
A recent study compared the volume of tears a dog produces normally with the volume produced upon reuniting with their owner after hours of separation. The scientists behind these findings claim that dogs may cry when happily reconnecting with their caretaker, but other scientists aren’t as convinced. So, are our pets weeping tears of joy when we walk through the front door? Stay tuned as the research develops.
Photo Credit: Janelle Leeson
9. I Scream, Kitty Screams
Soak up the final days of summer by spoiling your feline friend. Here’s a simple cat-friendly ice cream recipe our writer and devoted cat mom Janelle Leeson developed for her two cats. (Freeze-dried fish topper is totally optional.) View the full recipe here.
(For pup-friendly frozen treats like the one Olive the Boston is enjoying at the top of this post, see our updated recipe archive of dog-friendly slushies, pops, and other frozen concoctions here.)
10. Fancy Feastin’
Actual people feasted fancily at the New York City (a-hem, cat food-inspired) pop-up restaurant, Gatto Bianco. The two-day experience included for-human dishes developed by Fancy Feast chef Amanda Hassner and a special appearance from Gatto Bianco, the Fancy Feast cat. The cat food brand also released a cookbook for humans based on their feline recipes: Check out Rover’s review here.
Photo courtesy of Fences For Fido
11. Good Fences Make Good Dogs
Fences For Fido provides a much-needed community service in the Oregon and Southwest Washington area—its mission is to get dogs off chains into safely fenced yards where they can run free, so it builds a lot of fences for those in need, all for free. Since launching, the nonprofit has unchained 3,000 dogs. Read all about it in Susan Wyatt’s story, “Fences for Fido Frees Dogs From Chains, One Dog at a Time.”
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12. National Dog Day Every Day (on our Phones)
As we wrap the books on this August and look back just a few days ago to August 26—National Dog Day—we celebrate all the amazing canine companions who make a difference in our lives.
But if you’re like the rest of us, you don’t need a designated day to celebrate your precious pup—you’re likely doing it every day, with (nearly) every picture you take…
